The Federal Government has dismissed claims that indigenous contractors are restricted to handling projects valued below ₦20 billion.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, gave the clarification on Wednesday while inspecting the under-deck of the Carter Bridge in Lagos.
He explained that the new policy framework was designed to expand opportunities for local firms by reserving contracts under ₦20 billion exclusively for them.
“They are not limited to just ₦20 billion,” Umahi said.
“What we are saying is that expatriate firms will no longer execute jobs below that threshold.
“Bigger indigenous contractors will also compete with expatriates for projects above ₦20 billion.”
The minister also ordered the withdrawal of certificates from contractors who fail to cover binder courses on road projects.
He noted that during inspections in Rivers and Abia States, he observed cases where binder courses were left exposed for 10 to 20 kilometres without the wearing course applied.
“The binder course is like reinforcement—if it stays uncovered for more than two months, the road begins to fail,” he warned.
Umahi further stressed that the government would recover funds from contractors delivering substandard work, insisting that negligence and poor performance would no longer be tolerated.
