The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed federal road contractors to halt the closure of project sites without authorisation.
Umahi insisted that strategic highways and bridges must remain operational during the holiday season and afterwards.
He also directed directors in the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Controllers of Works across the country to suspend their holiday plans and remain on site to ensure that ongoing road projects do not obstruct the free flow of traffic during the festive period.
Umahi issued the directive at an emergency meeting with directors and contractors of the Federal Ministry of Works on Tuesday in Abuja, where he accused some contractors of abandoning sites under the guise of holidays despite worsening road conditions across the country.
According to him, road projects such as the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway, the Abuja drainage canals, and key corridors in Sokoto, Katsina and Kebbi states must not be closed under any circumstances due to their strategic importance.
“No contractor is permitted to close a site without the approval of the Federal Ministry of Works. Some sites must not close at all. Abuja–Lokoja cannot close.
“Some corridors are simply too critical. We would like some of our contractors who may be taking holidays to understand what is going on at their sites. Don’t close the roads. Open them for vehicular movements,” Umahi said.
(Punch)
