The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has announced the completion of 11 kilometers of reinforced concrete pavement on Section 1 of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
Speaking during an inspection visit over the weekend, Umahi revealed that the reconstruction work being carried out by Infiouest International Limited has validated the government’s decision to revoke the original contract from Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd.
“In Section 1, which covers 38 kilometers, and Section 2, which spans 80 kilometers (40 kilometers on each lane), over 11 kilometers have been completed using reinforced concrete pavement,” he stated.
Describing the technical specifications, the minister explained, “We are pulverizing the old road, laying an 80-inch stone base, mixing and compacting with cement, installing Y-20 reinforcement at 20-centimeter intervals, and pouring 200-millimeter reinforced concrete of grade 40 with 16-millimeter wire mesh. This structure ensures long-term durability.”
In a statement released by his media aide, Orji Uchenna Orji, Umahi emphasized that the quality and pace of work by Infiouest International Limited had justified the termination of the previous contract, which he said was driven by cost differences and performance issues.
He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the decision and facilitating the smooth continuation of the project. “Without the President’s backing, it would have been difficult to maintain our credibility. But today, the integrity of the Ministry of Works has been upheld through the quality of work delivered by Infiouest,” he said.
Umahi also declared an emergency on the dualization of the Suleja-Minna road, citing its deplorable condition and the President’s concern for the safety and convenience of road users.
He blamed the original contractor, Salini Nigeria Ltd, for delays and substandard performance, stating that the contract termination for non-performance is final and irrevocable.
The minister assured that the Federal Government is committed to delivering quality infrastructure and restoring public confidence in its road projects.
