Minister of Works Dave Umahi, on Tuesday, alleged that some “elements within” are sabotaging the Federal Government’s plans to redesign and construct yet-to-be-completed federal roads using reinforced concrete.
He also stated that ‘those elements’ would be sent to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and gave all contractors, yet to comply with the new directive, 14 days to sign an addendum for the concrete road pavement
“There are some elements within that also fighting me who are also benefiting from the system. And that is the greatest problem we have and they are just pretending. And I will flush those elements out and send them to ICPC to handle them because nobody can hold this country to ransom,” Umahi told State House, correspondents after he emerged from closed-door talks with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
This comes one month after he explained that the short lifespan of roads necessitated his recent proposal to the President to pursue the scheme.
Umahi, who had alleged connivance between non-compliant contractors and some members of his team to adopt the use of reinforced concrete, announced that he had secured the President’s backing to proceed with the new policy.
Consequently, he issued a 14-day ultimatum to contractors still on the sidelines.
So I’m giving them the last chance to conform to what will help Mr. President to reset the country.
“We are also leveraging on the contract we signed; it is 14 days’ notice we are going to give,” he revealed.
However, the minister said some contractors who are now complying can purchase bags of cement at specially discounted rates from major producers such as Dangote and BUA.
He explained, “I’ve had more than 10 meetings with contractors where we discussed this. We developed the design. We’ve developed the cost of doing concrete from the first principle: how much is cement?
“The cement factories, the Dangote and the BUAs have agreed to give special discounts to our contractors who are going to engage on concrete road pavement and many contractors are already doing it.
“Not all the contractors are in this gang up. Many contractors have come to sign addendums to doing the road’s pavement. Those who are meeting are going to be losers. And before them, they will see that we will do the job and we will do it very well.”
