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Non Compliance: FG Terminates Rehabilitation Of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway With Julius Berger

Published

3 days ago

November 4, 2024

Joel Ajayi

Federal Ministry of Works on has terminated Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) with Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plcover non compliance.

In a statement issued in Abuja by the ,Director, Press and Public Relations of Ministry of Work, Mohammed A. Ahmed reveals that, after the Management meeting of the Ministry which is borne out of several months of going back and forth without any meaningful progress was reached.

According to the statement, Based on non-compliance with reviewed cost, scope and terms, stoppage of work and refusal to remobilise to site, as directed, the Federal Ministry of Works has issued a 14-day Notice of Termination to Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna), today, 4th November, 2024.

“The decision, which is borne out of several months of going back and forth without any meaningful progress was reached at a Management meeting of the Ministry. The Ministry has in the last 13 months been in constant talks with the company, in order to reach an amiable position on the said alignment but to no avail.

“Nigerians may wish to know that the Contract for the Rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, which was divided into three (3) Sections was awarded to the company on 20th December, 2017 and flagged off by the then Minister of Power, Works and Housing, H:E. Babatunde Raji Fashola at an initial sum of N155.748,178,425.50 billion(One Hundred and Fifty-Five Billion, Seven Hundred Forty-Eight Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-Five naira Fifty Kobo) on 18th June, 2018.

Sections II (Kaduna – Zaria) and III (Zaria – Kano) were partially completed and handed over during the twilight of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
“Since then it has been one variation and augmentation or the other and finally, the present Minister of Works directed for the redesigning and re-scoping of the Section I of the contract.

“The alignment was divided into two with one phase redesigned to be on continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), while the remaining with asphaltic pavement. Approval for the Section I, Phase 1 for a length of 38 (thirty-eight) kilometres on concrete pavement was given to Messrs Dangote Industries (Nig.) Ltd, while the remaining 127 (one hundred and twenty-seven) kilometres remained with the substantive contractor. The Phase 1 was flagged off on 17th October, 2024 with a 14-month completion period.

“Due to the stalemate of the contract and, most importantly, the desire of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda infrastructure initiative, to see to the completion of this laudable project, also to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians plying the road, the Ministry re-scoped it and got the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). “

The statement added that: “The award for the Re-scoping and Downward Review of Contract for the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, Contract No.6350, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) in favour of Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc from the sum of N797,263,523,738.87 (seven hundred and ninety-seven billion, two hundred and sixty-three million, five hundred and twenty-three thousand, seven hundred and thirty-eight naira eighty-seven kobo) to N740,797,204,173.25 (seven hundred and forty billion, seven hundred and ninety-seven million, two hundred and four thousand , one hundred and seventy-three naira twenty-five kobo) was granted by FEC on 23rd September, 2024 and conveyed to the company on 3rd October, 2024.

“As due to the socio-economic importance the road as a vital artery connecting Abuja, the FCT to the North, the Ministry conveyed the approval for a Final Offer on the Abuja – Kaduna Dual Carriageway to the company on 23rd October, 2024, stating that it should agree, in writing, to accept the reviewed contract sum of N740,797,204,173.25 (seven hundred and forty billion, seven hundred and ninety-seven million, two hundred and four thousand , one hundred and seventy-three naira twenty-five kobo) within seven (7) days or risk the termination of the said contract. It is a sad commentary on the Company that rather than accepting the offer, they tinkered with the Bills of Quantities, as well as that of Engineering Measurements and Evaluation via a letter to the Ministry dated 29th October, 2024.

“The company was summoned for a meeting with the Management of the Ministry, today, 4th November, 2024 but refused to show up, hence the termination of the contract based on effluxion of time and non- performance.”

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Nigerian women beg Tinubu for more political slots

Published

3 hours ago

November 7, 2024

The Gleamer

… Promise they won’t disappoint

Miffed by the disparity in political appointments under the current administration, Nigerian women have pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to allocate more slots to Nigerian women.

Organisers of 2024 MMS Women of Fortune Hall of Fame Induction and International Women’s leadership summit, made the appeal at the event in Abuja on Wednesday.

Chairman of the occasion and Chairperson Blue Economy Nigeria Ltd, Lami Tumaka, who made the appeal, equally frowned at the marginalisation and disparity against women in political appointments.

The former NIMASA Director, said that the trust of the induction is for the inclusivity of women in appointive position.

Tagged; “Influencing Policies and Upscaling Capacity in Digital Economy, she explained that the women’s leadership summit is to mobilise Nigerian women.

Asked how the current administration has carried women along, she argued that they have tried but should do more, adding: “I don’t want to talk about this administration so that it won’t look as if I am criticising. I think we are achieving something. We are struggling, fighting to prove that we can do it. We want to sit on that big table like our men counterparts because we have something to offer.

“This administration is not doing badly, but the government can do better. They have done well especially in the involvement of youths. There are so many young people in this women including women. But there are many other women that have something to offer who should be involved. Nigerian women are demanding for more political slots,” she pleaded.

On the reasons behind the event, Mrs Tumaka, said: “The biggest takeaway will be inclusivity and giving equal opportunity not just to the women but also to the physically challenged.
“It is all about inclusivity, it’s gender parity and it’s meant to give competent women more opportunities. Giving them opportunities is not about doing so because they are women but because they are competent, capable and able enough to stand on their own.

“It is also about mentorship for the younger ones, coaching them and government enacting and following up on policies that are gender friendly to encourage women participation in all spheres be it politics.

“We keep talking about reserving certain percentage of political appointments to the women, but it must be based on competent and capacity to bring something to the table.

We want to encourage the participation of women in all spheres of Nigeria economy,” she said.
Similarly, a retired Deputy Director in NIMASA, Mary Hammad, urged Nigerians not to use the behaviour of other women that performed below expectations in their previous appointments to judge the women.

“We should not just pick on the women. We should not use the women undergoing investigation in the Humanitarian Affairs ministry and other places as a yardstick to judge women.

“Men have equally been having issues but it has not attracted attention like the one involving women. It is wrong to deny the women their right and what belongs to them because of the coincidence,” she appealed.

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