On Wednesday, the Federal Government set May 10 as the deadline for the completion of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway project, which is being managed by MTN under the Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment (Tax Credit) Scheme. This decision came after a meeting between the Federal Ministry of Works, MTN, and RCC Company Nig Ltd. held in Abuja. During the meeting, it was determined that MTN would be held accountable if the road’s quality suffers due to poor work by the contractor. The government also emphasized that there would be no variations or changes to the project’s scope unless strictly in line with the contract terms.

According to a statement from Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, the meeting included key figures such as the Minister of State for Works, Mohammad Bello Goronyo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. O.O. Adebiyi, as well as representatives from MTN and RCC Company Nig Ltd.

Minister Umahi reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the quality and timely completion of the road project. He expressed his concern over an MTN official’s suggestion that the Ministry’s directive to halt the use of subpar materials could sabotage the President’s development goals in the South East. Umahi stressed that the Ministry’s responsibility was to enforce quality control, noting that MTN is the contractor overseeing the project.

The Minister also shared his observations from site inspections, pointing out that MTN had been using inadequate peeled sand, which he ordered to be replaced with river sand, in accordance with contract specifications. Furthermore, Umahi criticized RCC’s attempt to request a variation order (VOP) of N14bn on a N38bn job, declaring such requests as unacceptable in the face of inflationary claims.

In addition, Umahi urged cement manufacturers to lower prices in light of the stabilized exchange rate, noting that the cost of cement had not decreased in line with the dropping dollar rate. He demanded that cement prices be reduced to N7,000, warning that if this did not happen within a week, he would escalate the matter to President Buhari. The Minister also mentioned the reduction in petrol prices and the government’s ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, highlighting that the President’s policies were having a positive impact.