On Wednesday, Senator Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, announced the suspension of several road construction projects in the Southeast region, pending a comprehensive review of existing and additional contracts.
He made this directive during an inspection of ongoing federal road construction and rehabilitation projects in the South-East states.
The minister expressed dismay that four bridges and three kilometers of additional work were costing N15 billion.
“I have directed directors in the ministry to sit with the contractors and review it.
“I strongly believe that there is no way that the project will cost us more than three to four billion naira, and when a project is too expensive, and the budgeting process is very low, then contractors will remain on site for 10 to 15 years,” he said.
Some of the roads inspected included the Ozalla- Akpugo-Amangunze-Isu Onicha (Enugu-Onitsha) with a spur to Onunwere in Enugu State done by Arab Contractors and rehabilitation of Old Enugu- Onitsha road also done by Arab Contractors.
Others were the construction of the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburubu -Nara road with a spur from Obeagu-Oduma road, Enugu State, Rehabilitation of Nsukka -Ikem, Eha Amufu – Nkalagu in Ebonyi State among others.
Umahi commended the quality of work done on some of the roads in Enugu, adding that he stopped certain payments until contractors, and the ministry reviewed the existing contracts and additional works.
The former Ebonyi governor said he stopped payment of RCC and Arab Contractors until they all sit down to review the cost of the projects and methods of construction.