No fewer than 39 mobilised contractors have failed to move to sites, says Senate Committee Chairman in Works, Senator Barinada Mpigi, in Ilorin yesterday.

Speed Painting, like medicine, leaves no room for error — Dr. Ojeabuo, A Speed Painter0:00 / 0:00
Similarly, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi threatened to use the EFCC to recover funds from 18 contractors with 260 projects who failed to return to sites.

The duo said this in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, during ‘Stakeholders Engagement on the Alignment for the 125 km Niger State and 188 km Kwara segments of the 1000 km Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.’

The furious Senator Barinada Mpigi, who told the stakeholders that no fewer than 39 mobilised Federal Government contractors have failed to move to sites, stressed that the upper legislative chamber would invite the erring contractors for questioning to know why they are not on sites.

He added that “the Senate frowns at the action of the contractors. We urge the works minister to terminate the contracts of nonperforming contractors. We are solidly behind the minister.”

Correspondingly, Works Minister Senator David Umahi said 18 contractors with 260 projects had not reported to sites.

“We will revoke the contract of any of the contractors who have received mobilisation fees and are not on site. We will use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover our funds from such contractors,” he added.

The minister revealed that Federal Government had 18 projects in Kwara, adding that ten of them were not working.

He said that six out of the ten would be reviewed for performance, hinting that four of the projects would be completed and delivered in the first quarter of 2025.
He said, “We encourage our governors to buy into the super highway project. With the support of the governors, President Bola Tinubu will deliver these projects to Nigerians.
“It is through infrastructural projects that we can bailout this nation out of recession and poverty.
“The super highway will have six-lane carriageways and train tracks by their sides.”

In his remarks, Kwara State Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, represented by his Deputy Kayode Alabi, said that the state is in full support of President Tinubu’s infrastructure drive and revival of the economy.

His Niger State counterpart, Umar Bago, said the president had made the dream of a new Nigeria possible.

He urged the affected communities not to demand compensation from the Federal Government.
“Government is not interested in grabbing your land. Government is bringing development to your doorsteps,” he added.