The Federal Government has revoked a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway contract being handled by Julius Berger.
Recall that the contract was awarded to Julius Berger in 2018, when former President Muhammadu Buhari was in power. While the Kaduna-Zaria section has been completed and Zaria-Kano section almost done, the Abuja-Kaduna section has recorded 27% progress in 6 years.
Speaking during the inauguration of rehabilitation of the highway yesterday, Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, accused Julius Berger of playing politics with the project.
According to him, the company was seeking for N1.5trn for the project but it was reviewed to N740bn by the Federal Executive Council, (FEC). He said, Berger said, to do this entire job, it needs N1.5trillion; we started negotiation since September last year, writing letters every week. Eventually, we told them that despite the ones they are requesting, it will still take them four years to complete, as there have been traffic jams and kidnapping on the road.
We presented the option of balkanising the road into three, which the President approved. When we did that, Berger accepted it as well as the rate. But we did not know they were playing games by continue to play delay tactics; and at that time their side was N710bn, both completed and those to be done. Later, they came back, that they wanted an increase to N740billion; we went to FEC, and they gave approval, only for them last week to demand another increase to N903 billion.
According to him, Even if we accept it, other contractors will want the same, and it will increase the project to about N4 billion per kilometre, which is on asphalt. Our position is that we are not increasing this project for Julius Berger beyond N740bn; the game is over. If they are not doing it, we will give it those that will do it on the same quality of the coaster road at a cheaper rate. They have subjected the project into politics; so they are using it to de-market our administration, and we say “enough is enough.
He further stated that the road, which has been 375kms dualised (750kms) will see the addition of 7.5 kilometers in Kogi and Kano States.
Speaking earlier, the Ministry s Director of Highway Construction, Engr. Bakare, said the project was de-scoped, while the outstanding sections of the project were re-awarded to ?angote and BUA.
He said the length of the road to be constructed by ?angote is 38 kilometre dual within the Section-1, and will cost N145 billion, with a 14 months completion date.
