The Federal Authorities has declared a state of emergency on the Suleja-Minna Highway, citing the deteriorated situation of the freeway and long-standing failures by the unique contractor, Salini Nigeria Restricted.
The announcement got here on Saturday throughout an inspection tour led by the Minister of Works, David Umahi.
Mr. Umahi described the highway, a vital hyperlink between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory as “in a really horrible situation,”.
“What ought to be a one-and-a-half-hour journey now takes over seven hours,” the minister mentioned.
Initially awarded to Salini Nigeria Restricted, the undertaking has confronted years of setbacks, with parts both deserted or executed to substandard high quality.
Umahi mentioned that regardless of repeated efforts over the previous 18 months to compel Salini to renew and restore the work, the corporate did not act.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago had beforehand raised the alarm over the state of the highway, prompting direct intervention from President Bola Tinubu. “The President gave a transparent directive: pressing motion have to be taken,” Mr. Umahi mentioned. “We’re treating this as an emergency.”
Declaring Sections One and Two of the roads as emergency initiatives, Mr. Umahi emphasised that the Ministry of Works will fast-track procurement processes. “If a contractor waits a single day after the award for mobilization, I’ll cancel the contract,” he warned.
Mr. Umahi disclosed that the contract with Salini has been irrevocably terminated, citing poor efficiency and {financial} considerations. “Salini remains to be owing the federal authorities. I’ve directed that we reclaim sections of the undertaking equal to the worth of what they owe,” he mentioned. “In the event that they fail to conform, we’ll deliver within the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) to recuperate public funds.”
The minister criticized ongoing lobbying efforts by unnamed events trying to retain Salini on the undertaking, calling it an act of “wickedness” in opposition to the Nigerian folks. “Contractors are engaged and paid, but we don’t get worth for cash. That period is over,” he mentioned.
Two new contractors have now been assigned parts of the undertaking. As a part of Niger State’s city renewal program, Governor Bago had earlier awarded a part of the highway to China Civil Engineering Building Company (CCECC), which has already accomplished 60 kilometers. The federal authorities will oversee the completion of the remaining 146 kilometers, with CCECC taking over a further vital seven-kilometer stretch.
“They’ve been given 10 days to mobilise to the location and start work,” Mr. Umahi mentioned. “There isn’t a going again. It is a battle for Nigerians, and we have now no regrets.”
The Suleja-Minna Highway, stretching 103 kilometers in a single path and 206 kilometers when dualized, stays a significant artery for commerce and journey. The emergency declaration displays a broader push by the Tinubu administration to implement accountability and revive Nigeria’s decaying infrastructure.
