‘You Can’t Collect Our Money And Be Misbehaving ‘-Umahi Threatens To Sack Contractor Handling Edo Road Project

The federal government has threatened to terminate the Benin/Sapele and Ologbo Road reconstruction project in Edo State over non-compliance to the scope and work specifications.

The government accused Levant Construction Company that is handling the project of playing politics with the job despite being paid.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, expressed dissatisfaction with the work during an inspection tour of work done on federal roads in the state.

He threatened to, on Monday issue a 14-day ultimatum to the contractor to take the project serious or risk revocation

Umahi said, “By Monday, give them a warning letter to start permanent work, and if by Monday they didn’t start, give 14 days’ notice of termination. We paid multi-billion naira for this job, and we have seen that a lot of contractors in this country are just playing politics with us, and we have emphasised this on several occasions.

“We will pay mobilisation fee to a contractor, we will never pay variation on price for that amount we have paid and that is the problem with Levant and after 14 days of notice of termination, if they don’t adhere to the term of the come, I will come and terminate the job myself”.

Speaking further, he accused the contractors of exploiting the freedom they enjoy in the country.

“You cannot do this kind of job in your country, it can only happen in Africa. You can’t collect our money and be misbehaving like this. It is a big shame, look at how people are suffering everywhere and we should be happy clapping for you.

“I have had more than 10 meetings with them on this job. If anything goes wrong, they will call the President,” he added.