The Federal Government says Hitech Africa Construction Company will complete the dilapidated section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway using concrete technology.
A statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed, on Tuesday, said President Bola Tinubu approved the contract to be awarded to Hitech, following the revocation of the contract issued to Julius Berger on the project.
On Monday, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, asked the construction company to evacuate the project site based on non-compliance with the reviewed cost, scope, and terms, stoppage of work, and refusal to remobilise to the site, as directed.
Giving an update on the road barely 24 hours after, the ministry said the road had been awarded to Dangote Company who subcontracted it to Hitech Africa Construction Limited.
The company currently handles the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway.
The statement read, “President Bola Tinubu has approved that the remaining 127 kilometres of the Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) be redesigned using continuously reinforced concrete pavement instead of the present asphaltic one.
“The contract, divided into three sections, was awarded to Messrs Julius Berger PLC on 20 December 2017, at an initial sum of N155.75 billion with a completion period of 36 months.
“However, due to one reason or another, only Section II (Kaduna-Zaria) have been completed and partly handed over, with Section III (Zaria-Kano) partially completed, while Section I remained in a deplorable state worsened by continuous wear and tear, as well as the vagaries of weather.
“In order to ameliorate the suffering of road users on the alignment, and most especially, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration to enhance critical infrastructures and transportation as enablers of growth, the said section was redesigned and re-scoped. It was divided into two phases with Section I, Phase 1, covering 38 kilometres, redesigned to be built with CRCP and awarded to Messrs Dangote Industries Ltd., who subcontracted it to Messrs Hitech Africa Construction Ltd”.
Continuing, the director stated that “due to the slow pace of work and abandonment of the remaining 127 kilometres, also considering the plight of road users and, most importantly, its socioeconomic impact as a gateway to the Federal Capital Territory from the North, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has continuously engaged the company to accept the final reviewed contract sum and remobilise to site.
“The lackadaisical approach to the project by the company, despite several variations and augmentations, prompted the ministry to convey the approval of the Federal Executive Council for a final offer of a reviewed contract sum of N740.79 billion. They were asked to accept the offer within seven days or the contract will be terminated.
“The ultimatum expired yesterday, 4th of November, 2024, and the company had already been served a 14-day Notice of Termination of Contract.
“The minister had hinted, at different fora, that if Messrs Julius Berger Plc is not willing to continue with the project at the agreed amount, they may as well come out plain, as the ministry is ready to do it on concrete while maintaining the same quality with that of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway or the Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway, which is built to last for between 50-100 years”.
The statement added that the president is “worried about the stalemate on the remaining section of this very important road and is eager to see it resolved for work to commence, in earnest”.
