Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of construction on the Eleme–Onne section of the East-West Road in Rivers State, warning the contractor to complete the project by December 15.
Umahi, who inspected the site on Tuesday, praised the quality of the work but said the pace was unacceptable. He directed the contractor, RCC, to accelerate efforts and ruled out any extension, cost review, or variation of price claims. “This project can never be reviewed by a Kobo, neither can there be any variation of price. The December 15 completion date stands,” he said.
The minister noted that repeated delays had forced the ministry to issue more than 10 warning letters to the contractor. He instructed the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State to issue another warning to ensure compliance.
Umahi assured that funding for the leftover flyover in phase one of the project was secured, as President Bola Tinubu had included it among priority projects to be delivered within record time. He dismissed reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had stopped funding, saying the president had directed otherwise.
The minister also raised concerns about trailers damaging the road, stressing that it was not designed for heavy-duty vehicles. He said he would engage state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to address the challenge.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Enwerama Tarilade, confirmed that 15 kilometres of the Eket-bound carriageway had been completed, while work was ongoing on the Port Harcourt-bound section. She expressed confidence that, despite disruptions from the rains, the project could be delivered by December.
