In a bid to encourage local contractors in the country, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the award of contracts of less than 20 Billion Naira to local contractors in the country.
Speaking during the inspection of the second carriage way of the Eleme Junction to Onne Port section of the East West Road Project, the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi said the move was to encourage local content and improve the earning power of Nigerians.
“Mr President has made an order on local content, there are some of the expatriate that are having more than 30 projects and they are not doing it.”
“The Ministry of works from today, any project that is below twenty billion Naira we can’t give it to any expatriate firm, it has to be indigenous contractors that would do it, so that the expatiates can take the jobs that they can finish.”
The Minister while reiterating the commitment of President Bola Tinubu towards providing road infrastructure across the country that would last for more than fifty years, instructed the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Tarilade Ewerema to put up letters to Security agencies on the menace caused by indiscriminate parking of heavy duty vehicles on Federal Roads.
“Send those letters to me so that when we start to impound these trailers, the law will be on our side and the people will be on our side.”
The President is doing everything possible to right the wrong in road construction, we are doing quality roads now that will last between fifty to hundred years but they are being destroyed by ourselves.”
Senator Dave Umahi while re-echoeing the December 15th Deadline given for the completion of the second Carriage way of the Eleme to Onne port section of the East West Road Project urged the contractor handling the project to take advantage of Sunny spells to carry out their work.
He frowned at the slow pace of work and directed the Federal Controller of Works to issue a warning letter to the Contractor noting that there will not be a review or variation of the contract sum under any guise.
“Let me make it very clear to the Contractor, the project cannot be reviewed by a kobo nor can there be any variation of price or any other claims.”
Senator Umahi explained that Eleme Junction to Onne Port section of the project with bridges and flyovers were part of the NNPCL tax credit that has been stopped but due to the magnanimity of President Bola Tinubu none of the projects covered under the tax credit scheme will be stopped across the country.
The Minister called on Nigerians to support the policies of President Tinubu who he noted is pulling in resources to ensure the delivery of quality infrastructure that would last across the country.
The Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi also called on State Governors to weigh in on indiscriminate parking of trailers on Federal Roads across the country.
“We have a war to wage, our roads are not designed to carry these heavy trailers that pack on the road.”
When I was coming from Aba to here, the trailers have taken over the entire roads, putting their weight, destroying some sections.”
He noted that the actions of the trailer/tanker drivers affects the integrity of the roads.
