Works minister David Umahi has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to contractors handling the Abuja-Lokoja road to fully mobilise to the site and utilise funds already released by the Federal Government.

Mr Umahi gave the ultimatum while inspecting the road project on Tuesday.

“We cannot be pampering contractors. If you are holding the federal government’s money, you have to bring it out and do the job, or we will go to the police and the EFCC. I am giving you 72 hours to effectively deploy on this road, utilise the money, while I am chasing the release of the other money, the president has graciously signed,” he said.

According to Mr Umahi, the Abuja-bound section of the road has suffered severe deterioration, with more than 90 per cent of the stretch damaged.

“If urgent action is not taken within the next few months, the situation will become much worse. While the president is doing his best and feeling the pressure, all stakeholders must also play their part,” he said.

The minister criticised some supervising engineers for failing to hold contractors accountable, accusing them of neglecting field inspections while remaining comfortable in their offices.

He reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing accountability, warning that any official found neglecting their responsibilities would be removed from project supervision duties.

The minister also expressed frustration over what he described as poor oversight and a lack of accountability among ministry officials.

“I am going to remove ministry staffers who are not doing well. You are supervising projects, yet you cannot answer any questions about any of them. You will be calling out the minister of works and our president. You leave people who have failed the nation, and you are calling out those who lose their sleep day and night. It’s very annoying,” he said.

According to Mr Umahi, while ministry officials neglect their duties, public criticism is often directed at the Ministry of Works and President Bola Tinubu.

Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, expressed concern about the realities observed at the Abuja-Lokoja road project sites.

“The president cannot be everywhere, and neither can the minister. That is why there are engineers, controllers and supervisors on site. What we have seen here suggests that reports reaching the minister do not fully reflect realities on the ground,” Mr Alabi said.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, urged ministry officials to be diligent in discharging their responsibilities.

Mr Nwaebonyi also appealed to agencies responsible for contractor payments not to undermine the administration’s infrastructure programme through unnecessary delays.

“If approvals have been granted, payments should be made. Nigerians want to see results and are no longer interested in excuses,” he said.

(NAN)