Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Ltd over the contractor’s alleged failure to complete an 11-kilometre road project in Delta State.
Umahi gave the directive on Wednesday during an inspection of federal road projects along the Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha corridor.
The minister expressed anger over the level of work on the road, saying Hartland had received about ₦14 billion but completed only around 40 per cent of the project.
The affected road stretches from Summit Junction to the head bridge. The contract also includes channelisation and the construction of hydraulic structures.
Umahi said the level of work was unacceptable after the amount reportedly paid to the contractor.
He also disclosed that he had previously contacted the company’s managing director over the need to return to the site and complete the work.
According to the minister, those efforts had not produced the expected result.
“I’ve called the MD to discuss their return to the site. I am going to look for him and have him arrested. I’m going to arrest him,” Umahi said.
He subsequently turned to the ministry’s Controller and issued a direct instruction.
“Controller, look for the MD of Hartland and arrest him.”
The minister also ordered officials of the ministry to begin steps to recover the money paid to the contractor.
He directed the relevant directors to activate the advance payment guarantee and approach the banks involved.
“Engineer Musa, tell the Directors of C&R to call up the APG immediately. You have to write to the banks to refund that money to us,” he ordered.
Umahi explained that the payment was made on the understanding that the contractor would complete the entire 11-kilometre section.
He said the agreement also covered the channelisation and hydraulic structures along the road.
“When I paid them that money, we reached an agreement: they were to finish 11 kilometres from Summit Junction to this head bridge with that money, as well as handle the channelisation and hydraulic structures. That was the agreement,” he said.
The minister said the contractor had failed to deliver on the agreement.
“Today, they have only completed about 40 per cent of what was agreed upon,” he added.
Umahi described the condition of the road as unacceptable and questioned why basic work had not been completed despite the funds released.
“Look at the kind of mess we are dealing with! Failing to do even simple filling on the road is pure wickedness.”
He ordered immediate attention to the approach sections of the bridge.
“By tomorrow morning, both sides of this head bridge must be filled,” Umahi directed.
The minister further ordered a comprehensive review of Hartland’s financial records with the Federal Ministry of Works.
He directed officials to examine the contractor’s payment records and certificates for its various projects with the ministry.
“They must submit all their payment records and certificates. Execute this instruction and report back to me. This is very important. Audit every one of their certificates across all jobs—we are going to sanction Hartland,” he said.
The directive could lead to further action against the contractor if the audit establishes that the company breached its contractual obligations.
Umahi’s inspection also took him to the Niger Bridge corridor, where he expressed anger over the vandalism of parts of the bridge infrastructure.
The minister said vandals had removed important components, including bolts, steel members and expansion joints.
He warned that the continued removal of such materials could put the bridge and road users at risk.
“We are not mad dogs. We can’t be suffering to fix these things while the public is busy removing them. It’s not possible. Where is the money to fix it?” he asked.
According to Umahi, the Federal Ministry of Works does not have an emergency fund to repeatedly replace infrastructure damaged by vandals.
He said the situation could become dangerous if damaged components were not restored quickly.
“The Ministry does not have an emergency fund to attend to this, and if this is not attended to, it can result in a catastrophic situation. I am visibly very angry about this situation, and it is unacceptable,” Umahi said.
The minister consequently ordered immediate repairs to the affected sections.
He also directed the ministry to strengthen security around the bridge to prevent further theft and destruction.
Solar-powered lighting and closed-circuit television cameras are to be installed around the bridge.
Umahi said the CCTV system should be accessible to designated ministry officials and security agencies so that suspicious activities can be monitored.
The Second Niger Bridge, in particular, has previously suffered damage to expansion joints and other components.
In 2024, Umahi had condemned the destruction of expansion joints on the bridge and ordered repairs and stronger security measures.
Earlier, in 2023, parts of the bridge’s road fittings were also reportedly stolen, prompting the Federal Government to increase surveillance around the facility.
During Wednesday’s inspection, Umahi also examined erosion around the Second Niger Bridge.
He directed that corrective work should begin without delay to prevent the erosion from worsening and threatening the infrastructure.
The Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha route is an important transport link in the region, connecting communities and supporting movement between Delta and Anambra.
The Federal Ministry of Works is now expected to follow up on the arrest directive, the recovery process and the audit of Hartland’s project records.
The ministry is also expected to monitor the repairs ordered around the bridge and the planned installation of security equipment.
