PHOTOS: Minister Inspects Enugu-Port Harcourt Road As Work Resumes

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Monday, inspected the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road as construction work resumed after an initial pause due to a debt owed to the contractor by the previous administration.

This followed a 14-day warning issued to the construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) by the Federal Government last month.

The government had threatened to terminate the contract over the company’s refusal to return to site.

Inspecting the ongoing construction, Umahi said the federal government had withdrawn the warning letter, as work has since resumed on the road, despite the pending debt.

“The warning letter given to CCECC is hereby revoked. The pace of work is excellent. The job quality is excellent, and the controller in charge of the job sends me updates on work every day. The paucity of funds is economically being managed,” he said.

Of the overall project and the completion date, the Minister said, “Beyond Abia State, you know this project runs from Enugu to Port Harcourt. So, the section being handled by CCECC is going well. By April they would have finished their section – that is the 61 kilometres, while the other 61 kilometres left will be handled by the Arab Contractors.”

Although the payment issue is pending, the contractors have the assurance of President Bola Tinubu that they will get paid, according to Umahi.

“In confidence, the President asked them to go back to work, and they are back to work. Money will be made available to them. CCECC has since tripled their pace on the job and the road quality is standard,” the Minister said.