The Federal Government has announced that all road projects valued at less than N20 billion will henceforth be handled exclusively by local contractors under its new Nigeria First policy.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this on Tuesday during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Junction in Rivers State, being executed by RCC Nigeria Ltd.
He also revealed that inherited projects previously funded under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Tax Credit Scheme will be prioritised for strategic funding. “Mr. President has graciously directed that none of such works should stop. We will prioritise critical projects along the national economic corridor like this one for immediate funding,” Umahi said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Uchenna Orji.
The minister warned contractors to ensure speed, quality, and strict compliance with specifications, cautioning that anti-graft agencies would be invited to probe any violation of contract terms. He criticised the practice of leaving binder asphalt layers unsealed for months, noting that such negligence leads to premature road failure.
On the Eleme-Onne project, Umahi rated the quality of work as “excellent” but condemned the pace as unacceptable. He insisted that the agreed December 15, 2025 completion deadline must be met, warning that there would be no extensions or price variations.
The minister also decried the destruction of roads by heavy-duty vehicles parked indiscriminately on highways, pledging to work with state governors and the Inspector General of Police to curb the practice.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Enwereama Tarilade, reported that the contractor had completed 15km of the Eket-bound carriageway and had moved to the Port Harcourt-bound section.
