Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has instructed China Harbour Engineering Company, the contractor responsible for a 43-kilometre segment of the Mararaba–Keffi Expressway, to ensure project completion and handover by February 28, 2026.
The directive was delivered during an inspection of the ongoing expansion project on Friday, where Umahi mandated the contractor to provide a detailed work timetable and a written commitment to meet the February deadline.
In addition to the timeline, the Minister directed the immediate removal of hand-moulded caps along the roadway and the commencement of median concreting. He emphasized the importance of installing solar-powered streetlights along the entire 43 km stretch.
Umahi expressed dissatisfaction with the contractor’s previous failures to adhere to directives, attributing these shortcomings to negligence on the part of Ministry officials assigned to oversee the project site.
“I am giving you the end of February to hand over this job. You must come to my office on Wednesday with your timetable and a commitment to complete the project by then,” the Minister said.
“We directed that these hand-moulded caps be removed. I have been here more than eight times. Now the problem is my staff, and today I will set an example of what 2026 will be like for all of us in doing this job.”
Umahi stressed that ministry officials on site possess the authority to enforce directives issued by the Minister or his representatives, noting that failure by a contractor to comply should attract denial of certificates or prompt escalation to the Permanent Secretary, Head of Department, or the Minister himself.
Consequently, the Minister ordered the immediate removal of a Controller of Works, whom he accused of issuing fraudulent certificates that led to payments for uncompleted jobs.
“Today, I am directing the Permanent Secretary to remove the Controller with immediate effect and send him to my office to learn how to obey instructions. Another Controller should be redeployed immediately to take over,” he said.
The Minister alleged that the same official had earlier issued certificates for palliative works that were not executed, resulting in undue payments.
Reading the riot act to ministry staff, Umahi declared 2026 an “action year,” warning that indiscipline and negligence would no longer be tolerated.
“Nobody will be spared. Discipline is our watchword. Diligence is our watchword. Doing the work we are paid to do is our watchword,” he said.
“When action is taken, no amount of pleading will reverse it. I report directly to Mr. President.”
He urged ministry staff and contractors to discharge their duties responsibly in the interest of Nigerians, adding that sanctions imposed on erring officers would stand, except reversed by God Almighty or the President.
“I need your prayers,” the Minister added. “I will have many fights, but I am not afraid of any.”
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