The Federal Government has terminated at least five major road contracts in Kogi State over what it branded unacceptable delays, non-performance and excessive time overruns, signalling tougher days for defaulting contractors on key federal arterials.
The termination decision was confirmed on Wednesday, 26th November, in Abuja, following a high-level contract review meeting presided over by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, at the ministry’s headquarters.
A review of critical corridors, including the strategic Abuja-Lokoja Highway, showed that some contractors delivered less than 5% completion despite consuming over 120% of their contract timelines, a development Umahi said could no longer be endured.
“These delays are unacceptable. Nigerians are suffering on these roads, and we cannot continue to indulge contractors who have clearly failed to meet obligations,” Umahi said after the closed-door session.
One of the affected projects is the Culverts and Drains on the Abuja-Lokoja Road (Section 2), Contract No. 8493, awarded on April 4, 2024, and handled by Sadogi Nigeria Ltd.
The project currently stands at 39.04% completion after 112.88% of the contract time has elapsed.
The Minister ordered a mutual termination, directing the contractor to operate only within the earlier disbursed advance, while final account determination begins immediately.
Similarly, the Abuja-Lokoja Section 4A Rehabilitation, Contract No. 8476, awarded July 13, 2024, and executed by Venus Construction Nigeria Ltd, recorded just 33.79% progress after consuming 131.15% of the allocated time. The deal has also been mutually terminated, with further work limited to the advance received pending reconciliation.
The beleaguered Abuja-Lokoja Road, a 179km dual carriageway linking the FCT to the southern region, has been under construction for more than 15 years, triggering daily complaints over gridlock, weakened pavements and rising crashes.
The corridor has also recorded recurring fatal accidents and crippling traffic queues, becoming a symbolic sore spot of federal infrastructure delivery.
The Section IVB (Flooded Corridor) of the road, executed by Sailthrough Engineering Services Ltd, escaped immediate termination but received a firm deadline: the project must be completed on or before December 20, 2025, as voluntarily committed by the firm, despite outstanding government payments.
2% Completion After 3 Years: CCECC Gets the Axe as Consultants Also Exit
The government also announced action on the Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe Road Reconstruction, Contract No. 7648, awarded November 18, 2022, and handled by CCECC Nigeria Ltd. Shockingly, the project achieved just 2.02% completion after 146.92% time overrun.
The Minister ordered the termination of the mutual contract, while also directing the supervising consultancy to be terminated due to gross funding inadequacies.
In the same vein, the decoded corridor, Lokoja-Shintaku-Dekina-Ayingba Road, Contract No. 7239, awarded on February 3, 2022, and handled by the joint venture Geld/Triacta Nigeria Ltd JV, has reached only 16.71% completion after exceeding 125% of its timeline and was also terminated.
Umahi, however, commended JRB Construction Nigeria Ltd for steady progress on Section 1, directing that completion be met by December 10, 2025.
The minister also lauded the pace of Trucrete Solutions Ltd on the 47.86km Koton Karfe-Abaji road rehabilitation, now at 40% completion with 58.33% time elapsed, describing it as progressing steadily and on schedule.
7-Day Ultimatum
For the Abaji-Koton Karfe dualisation (Section III) handled by the venture Geld/Triacta Nigeria Ltd JV and standing at 16.71% completion after exceeding 125% timeline use, the Minister issued a seven-day ultimatum:
“You have seven days to return to site, repair failed portions and ensure free traffic flow. Any further delay will attract sanctions,” Umahi declared.
Umahi also extended a public apology for the worsening travel conditions, saying: “I sincerely apologise to all road users for the hardship along the Abuja–Lokoja axis. Multiple projects are ongoing and we are working round the clock to ensure early completion.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving multiple interventions on the corridor, calling it a lifeline for Nigeria’s economy due to its heavy north-south traffic.
Umahi further directed that all outstanding works from the terminated contracts be compiled for emergency intervention under a special federal works programme, appealing for public patience as intensified construction resumes.
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