The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a one-month ultimatum to Messrs Arab Contractors Limited to complete the remaining 4.1 kilometres of the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of the 56-kilometre Section II (Umuahia Tower–Aba) of the Enugu–Port Harcourt dual carriageway.
Umahi, who paid an unscheduled inspection visit to the project, expressed disappointment over the company’s performance, accusing it of failing to meet its usual standards of quality and timeliness in project delivery. His remarks were contained in a statement released on Sunday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed.
The minister also inspected works on Section IV (Aba–Port Harcourt) of the same expressway, being handled by Messrs CCECC Nigeria Limited, following the expiration of a 14-day notice of termination earlier issued to the contractor.
During an earlier visit, Umahi had criticised the slow pace of work and deviation from approved engineering standards, noting that only the intervention of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, stopped him from revoking the contract.
The reconstruction project, originally awarded in January 2017 under the previous administration, covers 41.4 kilometres from Aba in Abia State to the Eleme Junction Flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It forms part of the four-section Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway rehabilitation.
Umahi said the completion of the project is crucial for enhancing connectivity to key national assets such as seaports, refineries, and petrochemical plants in the coastal region. “The significance of improving the socio-economic life of communities along the corridor, as well as boosting traffic between Aba and Port Harcourt, cannot be overstated,” he said.
At a separate event — a Grand Civic Reception held in honour of Governor Otti at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba — Umahi formally handed over several federal roads in Abia State to the governor for completion. The roads include the Owerri–Umuaka Road, Onuigbo–Umuahia Road, Omezuo Bridge, and Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road.
He explained that the move followed the approval of President Bola Tinubu, who authorised the governor to oversee the projects’ completion under a mutual agreement between the state and federal governments.
Commending Otti for his proactive approach, Umahi urged other governors to emulate him, noting that many federal road projects had been delayed due to funding challenges. He also called on the people of Abia and the South-East to support the Tinubu administration, saying the President had been fair to the region through appointments and infrastructure projects.
Responding, Governor Otti thanked President Tinubu for granting approval for the state’s intervention, describing it as a valuable contribution to the development of Abia and Nigeria. He added that the state had previously undertaken similar interventions on federal projects.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, has concluded a one-week technical visit to China as part of efforts to strengthen infrastructure development cooperation. The visit, organised under a Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Global Cooperation Promotion Research Centre, focused on technology transfer, public-private partnerships (PPP), and youth capacity building.
During the visit, Goronyo met with officials of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) — builders of the Keffi–Akwanga–Makurdi Highway — and XCMG, a global leader in construction equipment. He urged both companies to deepen partnerships with Nigeria through PPP frameworks and to invest in technical training for Nigerian youth to enhance employment and self-reliance.
Goronyo said the collaboration aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at delivering durable and sustainable road infrastructure across the country.
