Benin-Sapele-Warri Road: FG dumps contractual agreement with Levant Construction Co over poor performance

Umahi

For poor performance, the federal government has ended contractual agreement with Levant Construction Company for the reconstruction of a section of the Benin-Sapele-Warri road.

The company was awarded a portion of the road to Messrs Levant Construction .

In a statement signed and issued on Wednesday and made available to journalists by Hon. Uchenna Orji, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, the federal government said the company has failed to live up to expectations..

The decision to terminate the project (Section 1: Benin–Imasabor), executed under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, was reached during a meeting between the minister and the Chief Executives of GELD Construction Ltd and SKECC Nigeria Ltd in Abuja.

The statement read in part: “I have ordered the termination of the contract with Levant Construction Ltd on the reconstruction of Benin-Sapele-Warri Road (Section 1: Benin–Imasabor), being executed under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, due to non-performance.

This decision was reached during a meeting with the Chief Executives of GELD Construction Ltd and SKECC Nigeria Ltd, where I expressed disapproval over the failure and/or neglect of Messrs Levant to live up to expectations in their contractual duties.

“Despite warnings and notices, Levant Construction Ltd failed to respond, leading to the decision to terminate the contract.

“I have directed the Permanent Secretary to properly terminate the job and issue a letter for joint measurement.

“Additionally, we will request repayment of the Advance Payment Guarantee (APG), and if necessary, the matter will be referred to the EFCC.

“Conversely, I expressed satisfaction with the outcome of discussions with SKECC Nigeria Ltd and GELD Construction Ltd, who have agreed to step up work on their respective sections of the road project.

“I commend the Governors of Delta State and Edo State for their interventions on some kilometers of the road project,” the statement read.

The minister further called on Nigerians across the six geo-political zones to disregard speculations circulating in some quarters regarding marginalization in road construction under the present administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Umahi, however, insisted that the Renewed Hope administration is committed to inclusive road development across all six geo-political zones.

“Regarding allegations of marginalization in road infrastructure development, I want to assure Nigerians that the Renewed Hope administration is committed to inclusive development across the six geo-political zones.

“We are executing numerous road projects in the North, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna road, and Kano Northern Bypass, among others.

“In fact, the North has 52% of the four legacy projects of Mr. President, while the South has 48%.

“I urge Nigerians to see these projects as national endeavors benefiting the entire country.

“I remain committed to the Ministry’s mission of restoring confidence in Nigeria’s road infrastructure and showcasing the transformational power of the Renewed Hope administration,” he stated