The chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Barinada Mpigi, has commended the bold steps of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in tackling the challenges that inhibit road infrastructure development in the country.
He made the commendation, Thursday, during an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Works on contractors’ slow pace of work on the Odukpani-Aba-Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene and other sections ending at Benin, including the Odukpani-Itu Highway, the Eket Bypass, Port Harcourt – Ahoada, Ahoada – Kaiama, and Port Harcourt – Onne Junction Sections of the East-West Road.
In the meeting, which had in attendance, the members of the Committee, the Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi, with his management team and concerned contractors including, CCECC, RCC, SAMATECH, GITTO and SETRACO, the Senate Committee Chairman stated that the Senate is prepared to fully back actions that hold contractors accountable and put an end to practices that delay the impact of the administration’s infrastructure delivery goals.
In a motion moved and adopted during the investigative hearing, the Senate resolved that it would have no option than to issue a warrant of arrest on Julius Berger Plc should it fail to appear before it as scheduled.
Moving the motion, a member of the Committee, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong said, “Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Limited is not here. Now, my understanding is that Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc bidded, was selected, and awarded this job. Funds from taxpayers across this country were disbursed to them.”
Speaking during the event, Umahi thanked the Senate leadership, Senate Committee on Works and indeed the 10th NASS for placing a watch on the contractors to ensure value for money, speedy and quality delivery of all the road projects of this administration.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving priority attention to the completion of the inherited ongoing projects and for the vision that informed the initiative to construct the four legacy projects cutting across the six geo-political zones.
