Abuja-Lokoja Road:Use Government Funds or Face EFCC, Umahi Warns Contractors

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to contractors handling the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Abuja-Lokoja highway, demanding immediate action on project sites or risk prosecution by anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies.

Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, delivered the warning on Tuesday during an inspection tour of ongoing road projects, expressing frustration over what he described as poor commitment by some contractors despite receiving substantial government funding.

Umahi handed contractors working on sections of the critical Abuja-Lokoja corridor a 72-hour ultimatum to fully mobilise to site and begin meaningful work, warning that the era of collecting public funds without corresponding project execution was over.

“We cannot continue to pamper contractors,” the minister declared.

“If you are holding government funds, you must bring out the money and do the work. Otherwise, we will begin engaging the Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

The Abuja-Lokoja highway remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic transport corridors, linking the Federal Capital Territory with several states across the North Central, North West and North East regions.

The road serves as a major route for passenger and commercial traffic and has long been plagued by congestion, deterioration and safety concerns.

According to Umahi, more than 90 per cent of the Abuja-bound carriageway has deteriorated significantly, raising fears of a major transportation crisis if urgent intervention is not undertaken.

He warned that the situation could become considerably worse within months if contractors fail to accelerate construction activities.

“If urgent action is not taken, the road condition will deteriorate beyond what we are seeing today,” he said.

“While President Bola Tinubu is doing everything possible to support infrastructure development, every stakeholder must also play their part.”

The minister also turned his attention to ministry officials responsible for supervising federal road projects, accusing some engineers and project supervisors of abandoning their responsibilities.

According to him, inadequate supervision has contributed to project delays and poor contractor performance.

Umahi criticised officials who, he said, remain in their offices instead of carrying out regular inspections and monitoring activities on project sites.

“I am going to remove ministry staff who are not doing well,” he warned.

“You are supervising projects, yet you cannot answer basic questions about them. That is unacceptable.”

The minister lamented a situation where public criticism is often directed at the Federal Ministry of Works and the Presidency while officials charged with project monitoring fail to discharge their responsibilities.

“You leave people who have failed the nation and then begin blaming the Minister of Works and the President who are working day and night. It is very annoying,” he said.

Umahi reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing accountability within the ministry and among contractors, stressing that only measurable performance would be tolerated.

The inspection also attracted members of the National Assembly, who echoed concerns about the pace of work and project supervision.

Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, said what lawmakers observed during the inspection did not align with reports being submitted to the ministry.

“The President cannot be everywhere, and neither can the minister,” Alabi said.

“That is why engineers, controllers and supervisors are appointed. What we have seen here suggests that reports reaching the minister do not fully reflect realities on the ground.”

Similarly, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, urged ministry officials to demonstrate greater diligence in overseeing federal infrastructure projects.

He also called on agencies responsible for processing contractor payments to avoid unnecessary delays that could undermine the administration’s ambitious infrastructure agenda.

“If approvals have been granted, payments should be made promptly,” Nwaebonyi stated.

“Nigerians want results. They are no longer interested in excuses.”

The renewed pressure on contractors comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to improve critical road infrastructure nationwide under the Renewed Hope agenda.

For millions of commuters who rely on the Abuja-Lokoja highway daily, the coming weeks may prove crucial in determining whether long-promised improvements finally begin to materialise.