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FG Threatens To Terminate Rivers Road Contract
The Federal Government has said that it end the Rivers Road Contracts if the contractor, Julius Berger failed to accept the offer.
The Federal Government has offered an additional N20.5bn to the contractor constructing the 35.7km Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridge projects in Rivers State, to complete the project or risk termination.
This is just as the government set December 2024 as the new deadline to complete the project.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi made the offer on Wednesday during a meeting with contractors and the peace committee on the project from Bonny Kingdom in Abuja.
The project, which was awarded through a partnership agreement in 2017 between the ministry and Nigeria LNG Limited to Julius Berger at the cost of N120.6bn, was slated to be funded 50 per cent by Nigeria LNG Limited.
The 39 km long road is the first road link between Bonny Island to the rest of Rivers State.
However, a force majeur declared by the company due to the dwindling exchange rate stalled the progress of the project even after the ministry ordered the company back to the site last year December.
The construction company had demanded an additional N28.8bn to construct the remaining section of the 39 km road which is 84 per cent completed.
But in a meeting at the ministry headquarters, Umahi stated that if the contractor does not accept the Federal Government’s offer by Friday and resume work on the site, the previously expired 14-day ultimatum for their return will be enforced.
While cautioning that no contractor has the authority to dictate terms to the Federal Government on a contract that has already been agreed upon by both parties, the minister stressed that his stance was grounded in the legal requirement for both parties to review the contract terms before signing it.
“The government is willing to provide N20bn out of the N28bn the contractor is requesting.
“No contractor will dictate for me. If you don’t like the offer, you walk away. I will not sign any contract based on the exchange rate. We should have respect for our currency. A contract that was signed in naira cannot be implemented in dollars. It will be in naira. Julius Berger stopped work without giving a grace period. That’s a breach of contract. You cannot just bring receipts and expect the minister to be paying. Even a madman has some period of sanity. ”
“I am making an offer to pay N20.5bn out of the N28bn and we still have to seek presidential approval on this. The company would have to state through a letter if they accept but by Friday, if I don’t get anything we would return to our standing which involves termination of contract.
“Our position is very simple, we reject the conditions of Julius Berger totally and we ask Berger to please go back to the site to complete the project based on our offer. Our offer is unconditional and we say, accept or reject, so you cannot subject our offer to your conditions.
“Berger should note that our 14-day termination ultimatum has gone and we will make a proposal if you do not agree with this,” he warned.
Before agreeing to pay N20bn out of the N28b requested by Julius Berger for project variations, Umahi had maintained that the ministry would only allocate N13.8b, resulting in an N15b disparity.
The minister cautioned Julius Berger to learn to demonstrate humility in its dealings with the client (Federal government) but also show solidarity during economic difficulties, considering the substantial benefits it had received during the country’s prosperous economic times.
The 39km long road, has cross culverts and two mini bridges with a span of 23m each as well as two creek bridges, Afa Creek Bridge of about 530m length and Nanabie Creek Bridge of about 640m length, in addition to the construction of a major river bridge of about 750m length over the Opobo Channel.
He said the ministry under his watch will not sign contract variations based on foreign exchange rates and will not make payment on variations unless directed by the President.
Former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmad Mohammed Makarfi, has lost his eldest son, Faisal Ahmad Makarfi.
Faisal, alongside two others, was reportedly involved in an auto crash along Zaria-Kaduna Expressway on their way from Makarfi town yesterday evening.
A source said Faisal died at a health facility on Zaria road while doctors were battling to save the lives of others.
Meanwhile, former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central in the Senate, Comrade Shehu Sani has condoled with Makarfi’s family, following the tragic loss.
Sani, via his official X handle said “Just received the sad news of the death of Faisal the Son of HE Senator Ahmed Makarfi.May Allah grant him Aljanna firdausi.Amin.”
MATAWALLE TO AMAECHI: Stop Inciting Violence And Unrest Among The Nigerians
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has warned former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, not to inciting violence and unrest among the Nigerians.
”He urged Amaechi to desist from making inflammatory remarks that threaten the peace and stability of the nation.
Matawalle issued the warning in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Henshaw Ogubike, on Saturday.
According to the statement, the Minister expressed deep concern over the dangers posed by such rhetoric.
The statement said: “It is both reckless and irresponsible for a former public servant of Amaechi’s standing to incite Nigerians against their own government,
“At a time when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working tirelessly to address the challenges facing the nation through various reforms that are yielding results.
“It is absurd, preposterous, and shameful for anyone to exploit the genuine situation of our citizens for selfish political gain.”
The minister said President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring peace in every corner of the country.
OLU JAMES-RAPHEAL
We are giving back to society in a mega way to improve livelihood of the residents of the nation’s capital, by providing furnitures for schools, constructing state-of-the-art toilet facilities, digging borehole within the FCT, and other projects that will impact society positively.
This was revealed by the Publisher of MegaStar Magazine and Executive Director of the project, Adeniyi Ifetayo Moses in a statement he personally.
He said the leadership of the MegaStar Magazine as means of giving back to the society has resolved that after the Megastar Man of the Decade Award (MMOTDA) ceremony in Abuja, it will embark on the CSR in strategic locations in Abuja.
According to him the CSR he said will involve the construction of state-of-the-art toilet facilities in Abuja, borehole projects, provision of furniture for schools within the FCT and other projects that will impact the society.
The MMOTDA ceremony will be first-in-class as it will recognize prominent individuals for their contributions in nation-building.
The elaborate event will hold 1st December,2024 at the Prestigious Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments.
Highlighting the level of preparations being put in place to ensure that it comes out topnotch, he said, “We have secured the Marquee at Wells Carlton Hotel and apartments and Megastar Man of the Decade Award will be hosted by CNN Senior Editor for Africa, Stephanie Busari.
“Additionally, we will have Teni Makanaki to entertain the audience and of course comedy spice in between by the leading Abuja comedians, MC Shotcut and MC Bob.”
Speaking on the category of individuals to be honoured, Ifetayo a luxury and lifestyle journalist said awardees will include corporate bodies and governments agencies who have worked tirelessly to improve the country’s fortunes in the last 10years.
It will also recognize posthumously individuals who are late, whose contributions still make waves in serving humanity till date.
There would also be Friends of Nigeria award category, designed for foreign nationals whose businesses or services to the Nigerian nation have made life easier and few Diasporans who have been good ambassadors to the country.
The award theme is, “The Nigeria of my Dream is Possible” and a seasoned good governance advocate has be