By Muhammad Mamman
The Federal Government of Nigeria has terminated a major road rehabilitation project and ordered a restructuring of another in Kogi State, citing abysmal progress despite significant funding, the Ministry of Works announced Thursday.
The Lokoja-Shintaku-Dekina-Anyigba road project, awarded to TEC Engineering Company Nigeria Limited in 2022, was scrapped after achieving just 1.04% completion despite a ₦1 billion advance payment. Similarly, the Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe dual carriageway, contracted to CCECC Nigeria Limited in 2022 with a 2024 completion deadline, has only reached 1.97% progress despite a ₦2.5 billion advance.
Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi, criticized the contractors’ delays during a meeting in Abuja, emphasizing the Tinubu administration’s commitment to quality and timely infrastructure delivery. “The Renewed Hope agenda prioritizes speed, quality, and value for money,” Umahi said, according to a statement from his media adviser, Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji
.
For the Okene-Ajaokuta-Itobe project, Umahi issued a 30-day ultimatum to CCECC to resume work and achieve milestones proportional to funds received, threatening mutual termination if unmet. For the Lokoja-Shintaku-Dekina-Anyigba project, TEC was directed to lay 3km of asphalt by December 2025, after which the contract will be terminated based on completed milestones. Both projects’ consultancies were also ordered terminated pending new procurement.
The decisions aim to streamline funding and execution of inherited projects, with officials from the Ministry of Works and Kogi State, alongside contractor representatives, attending the meeting.
