Don’t Demolish Buildings For Calabar -Abuja Superhighway, Umahi Warns Contractors

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has warned contractors handling the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway not to demolish buildings along the project alignment until the federal government concludes a review and, where necessary, realigns the route.

He gave the directive on Friday during an inspection of phase two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway at Ado in Benue State, where he also reviewed progress on the project and directed contractors to accelerate construction activities.

The minister in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media Mr Francis Nwaze said the second section of the project covers 173 kilometres and is valued at N683 billion, while Section One is valued at N454 billion.

According to Umahi, the contractor has already opened the first element of thep first eight kilometres on section two while efforts are being intensified to resolve the engineering challenge around the Ado Bridge.

“I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,” Umahi said, explaining that he had directed the contractor to open another section from the Ado River while the engineering team works out the best solution for crossing the bridge.

He also directed that at least three sections of the first element of Section Two be opened simultaneously to increase the pace of work, adding that he would personally engage the project manager on site to agree on the technical and practical steps required.

Umahi commended the contractor for the progress recorded since his last inspection, saying, “From the last time we were here until now, he has done very well, and I’m very proud of what he’s doing.”

The minister, however, gave a clear instruction concerning buildings located within the current alignment, stressing that the human impact of the project must be carefully considered.

“My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,” he said.

He further directed that sharp curves along the highway should be strengthened, irrespective of what may have been contained in the original design, stressing that experienced professionals were needed on major infrastructure projects because engineering realities on the ground sometimes require adjustments.

Umahi explained that the project was being executed under an EPC Plus Finance arrangement, under which variations are not provided for, making it necessary for the project team to carefully manage quantities and resources without imposing additional costs on the Federal Government.

The minister also highlighted additional works being undertaken under Section One, including the dualisation of the road at Onueke, which he said was outside the initial scope, as well as the dualisation at Chainage 0 around Ndibe Beach.

Reacting to social media posts alleging he diverted more projects to the South East, he said the Southeast was simply receiving infrastructure attention as part of the national distribution of projects.

He said “I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so they darken counsel without knowledge,” he said.

Umahi stressed that the infrastructure programme was not his personal initiative but part of the Federal Government’s broader development agenda under President Tinubu.

“I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?” he asked.

He said the Southeast was simply receiving infrastructure attention as part of the national distribution of projects, adding that the region may not necessarily be first, second or third in infrastructure development under the Tinubu administration, but “definitely they will not be the last.”

The minister also dismissed the idea of any political “rainbow coalition” in Ebonyi State involving him and other political interests, saying his Ebonyi State remained fully aligned with the APC and the political direction of the state.

Responding to a question about his relationship with former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and whether he was forming a “rainbow coalition” in Ebonyi, Umahi said, “If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship.”

He reiterated his criticism of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi, recalling that he had left the party after what he described as its failure to adequately recognise and serve the interests of the Southeast.

“We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,” Umahi said, adding that he remained confident in the APC and its candidates in Ebonyi State.

He nevertheless said political opponents were free to campaign in the state, provided they did so peacefully.

“Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that,” he said.