FG Terminates Dantata & Sawoe’s Contract on Kano-Maiduguri Road

The Federal Government has terminated the contract awarded to Dantata & Sawoe Ltd for Section 1 of the Kano-Maiduguri road project, which has been pending since 2007. This action was announced by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who cited the expiration of the contract’s time frame as the primary reason for the termination. This development underscores the government’s determination to ensure that long-standing infrastructure projects are completed on time and deliver value to the public.

In addition to this, the government has assured Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, of an immediate intervention to repair a section of the Kano-Maiduguri federal road that was severely damaged by recent floods. The floods had severed the road, cutting off the local Malori-Guskuri community in Katagun Local Government Area, which has significantly impacted their daily lives and economic activities.

During a performance review meeting held on August 9, 2024, in Abuja, which was attended by representatives from Dangote Group, BUA Group, and Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, Minister Umahi emphasized the need to revisit and revise the liability period for all federal projects to ensure durability and optimal use of public funds. The meeting focused on road projects under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, on Saturday, Minister Umahi stressed the urgency of accelerating the completion of critical infrastructure projects, particularly those funded under the Tax Credit Scheme. He highlighted the importance of adhering to milestone completion timelines and warned that the government would no longer tolerate delays in these vital projects.

“Nigerians are suffering on these roads, and President Bola Tinubu is doing everything possible to address these issues, giving the road sector special attention. It would be a failure on our part to allow contractors to delay these projects while ignoring the people’s suffering,” Umahi said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to delivering results.

He called for greater dedication from all stakeholders, including funding partners, and urged Nigerians to remain patient. He stressed the importance of partnership and patriotism in supporting the President’s vision for national development.

The Minister also pointed out that several ongoing projects under the Tax Credit Scheme have experienced delays due to outdated pricing structures. These projects, involving major companies such as Dangote Group, BUA Group, Mainstream Energy Solutions, and MTN Nigeria, are currently under review to expedite their completion.

Minister Umahi directed a technical team from the Ministry of Works to assess the flood damage in Bauchi State and propose an emergency solution to restore access to the affected communities. He also instructed Mothercart Ltd, the original contractor for the damaged section, to join the assessment team to determine the cause of the road failure.

The Minister praised the efforts of Dangote Plc on projects such as the Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway, the Lekki-Deep Seaport road, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe road in Kaduna. He also commended BUA for their work on the Lokoja-Benin Highway at Ekpoma and urged Mainstream Energy Solutions to accelerate their efforts on their respective projects.

As the government pushes for the swift completion of critical infrastructure projects, Minister Umahi reassured Nigerians that the government remains committed to ensuring that the country’s roads are safe, reliable, and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.