₦airaland Forum

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has terminated the contract awarded to Levant Construction Limited over its failure to deliver on the Benin–Sapele–Warri road project.

The road, a major federal highway, is being reconstructed under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

Speaking in Abuja after a meeting with contractors handling various sections of the project, Umahi accused Levant of abandoning its section of the road despite multiple warnings and a final termination notice.

According to a statement signed by his media aide, Orji Uchenna, on Wednesday, the minister disclosed that despite intervention by the Edo State Government on the worst sections of the road, Levant failed to mobilise to its portion of the site, leaving critical areas unattended.

“We even begged the Edo State Governor to fix the worst-hit parts while Levant handled the remaining. While the governor delivered on his 23km stretch for N35bn, Levant abandoned its section.

“They received multiple warning letters, including a final notice, but chose not to return to the site,” Umahi said.

Umahi directed the Permanent Secretary to finalise the contract termination, initiate a joint measurement for completed works, and write to the company’s bank for the recovery of the Advance Payment Guarantee.
He warned that failure to refund the public funds could lead to prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In contrast to Levant’s performance, the minister praised Geld and SKECC for agreeing to return to the site following renegotiations.

He noted that a project review has been approved to accommodate inflationary pressures, including the rising cost of asphalt, now pegged at ₦30,000 per square metre from a previous ₦9,000.
“I’m pleased with Geld’s commitment. For their other job on the Lokoja-Abuja road, we’ve agreed to a price review. The same applies to the Itoki–Ikorodu road. We are happy to see movement again,” he said.

He also lauded the efforts of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for stepping in to fund critical sections of the federal road.

“We are grateful. These governors are doing very beautiful work,” he said.

Reacting to recent claims by some Northern groups accusing the Tinubu administration of favouring the South in road projects, Umahi described the allegations as “malicious and uncharitable”.
He stressed that project distribution under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has been fair, inclusive, and based on inherited commitments and current needs.

“In this ministry, we don’t count regions. We follow the President’s example—he inherited projects and chose to continue them irrespective of location,” Umahi said, citing the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road project as a case in point.

He noted that under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme alone, Niger State accounts for 26 per cent of the project portfolio, while the South-West and South-East combined barely get 9 per cent.
On the controversial Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said the project is not designed to favour any region, explaining that comparable investments are being made in the North with the same quality and cost standards.

“For instance, the Kebbi section alone, with just one carriageway, is costing about N958bn. When the second lane is approved, that’s nearly N2tn—comparable to Lagos-Calabar segments,” he said.

Addressing criticisms on the slow pace of work on the Eleme–Onnexis of the East–West Road, Umahi said the contractor, RCC, has since improved performance after initial issues. He clarified that [quote]asphalt work being done on a completed lane was to maintain traffic flow around flyover sections.

“Let the critics go and verify. We’ve done one carriageway. Where asphalt is being reapplied, it’s around flyover intersections for smooth movement,” he said.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s road infrastructure, saying, “We want Nigerians to feel the impact of governance.

“President Tinubu is investing heavily in roads—North, South, East and West—because he understands the economy runs on infrastructure. I have never seen such a unique President"

ivandragon:
One side of the story.

What does levant have to say in response? The media houses should do the needful interviews/investigations

ogaemma:
If not for corruption and political sentiment, is
Levant is credible company?
A Substandard company that is not recognize in the country of it's origin.
Go there and see their construction workers on bathroom slippers and T shirts.
You hardly see their construction workers on full PPE wears.
They will hire equipment and bulldozer to do their work.
Equipment will breakdown in site and it will take week's before they fix it.

Badtman:
23km stretch for N35bn ….I never eat salt or pepper except Califo strain this morning…I for swear but one day we will all be there to eat our own ✅

autoez:
Always looking for faults. What else do you want to hear. Nawa o

iLoveYouToo:
stretch for N35bn
Nigeria why? When will this wanton looting end?

ivandragon:
One side of the story.

What does levant have to say in response? The media houses should do the needful interviews/investigations

ivandragon:
One side of the story.

What does levant have to say in response? The media houses should do the needful interviews/investigations

ivandragon:
One side of the story.

What does levant have to say in response? The media houses should do the needful interviews/investigations