By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi has ordered the termination of the contract with Levant Construction Ltd on the reconstruction of Benin-Sapele-Warri Road, due to non-performance.
The Minister, in a briefing, expressed disapproval over the failure and neglect of Messrs Levant to live up to expectation in their contractual duties in respect of the section of the road awarded to them.
He said, “We have three sections there. We have the Levant section. Unfortunately, Levant has not lived up to expectation. We even had to intervene and beg the Governor of Edo State to please get the worst sections of that route done.
“We divided the worst sections into two and told Levant to concentrate on one part. While the Governor of Edo State intervened, which I think is about 23 kilometers for N35 billion, and that section the Governor of Edo State intervened is ongoing very well, Levant has since left site. We gave them a series of warning letters. We also gave them the last termination notice. When a termination notice is given to you, it is for you within 14 days to go back to the site and begin to do those things you were not doing.
“This time is for them to remobilize to the site and for them to work, but they did not respond.”
According to the Minister, he had directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, to get the job properly terminated and write them a letter for a joint measurement, and also to write their bank to request for repayment of the APG failing, of which the matter would be taken to EFCC.
He however, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the discussion with SKECC Nigeria Ltd and Geld Construction Ltd, but recommended, they step up work on the respective sections of the road project being handled by them.
He commended the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori and the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, for their interventions on some kilometers of that road project.
On the jobs by Messrs SKECC and Messrs Geld, the Minister stated, “SKECC has about one kilometer which they started with milled asphalt, yes the money in the budget for SKECC within their own section, NNPC allocation, is exhausted. But we are pleading with them to go back and remedy this one kilometer that they have milled the existing asphalt.”
For Messrs Geld, he said, “Geld has accepted to go back to their own section, and we’ve agreed to review their project to cater for the unforeseen circumstances that they encountered.”
