The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited over the contractor’s failure to complete an 11-kilometre section of the Asaba-Onitsha road despite receiving about N14bn for the project.
The affected section stretches from Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, to Head Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Umahi gave the order on Thursday during an inspection of the First Niger Bridge and adjoining road projects, expressing anger over the slow pace of work on the road.
The minister said Hartland had completed only about 40 per cent of the work it agreed to execute after receiving the funds.
According to him, the contractor was expected to complete the 11km road, including channelisation and hydraulic structures.
“On the Summit Junction to this Head Bridge, we gave it to the contractor called Hartland, and we paid them, I think, up to N14bn.
“We reached an agreement that they would finish the 11 kilometres from the Summit Junction to this bridge with the money and do the channelisation and hydraulic structures. But today, they have done just about 40 per cent of the agreement,” Umahi said.
He subsequently directed the ministry’s controller to track down the company’s managing director.
“I am going to look for him to arrest him. Controller, you look for the MD of Hartland and arrest him,” the minister ordered.
Umahi also directed officials to recover funds paid to the contractor through the banks and ordered a review of all certificates and payments associated with the company’s projects.
He said Hartland must return to the site and complete the work.
The minister, who was accompanied by the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, as well as other ministry officials, also expressed concern about the poor condition of the road.
He ordered the immediate repair of failed road sections around Head Bridge, saying the deteriorating road was worsening traffic congestion and making travel difficult for motorists.
The minister also raised the alarm over the vandalisation of critical components of the First Niger Bridge.
He said vandals had removed expansion joints, bolts and steel components from the bridge, including an overhead steel member considered important to the structure.
Umahi said the extent of the damage was greater than what had been portrayed on social media, making urgent repairs necessary.
He directed officials to weld damaged components that could still be salvaged and replace missing steel and bolts.
He also ordered immediate milling and asphalt works on affected sections of the bridge.
The minister explained that movement or shaking of the bridge did not automatically mean that it was structurally unsafe, noting that bridges were designed with bearings to allow controlled movement.
However, he said the heavy dead load from asphalt would be addressed as part of the repair works.
Umahi said the government was considering restricting traffic on the bridge at night to allow repairs, while reopening it during the day to reduce the impact on motorists.
To prevent further vandalism, he announced plans to install solar-powered streetlights and CCTV cameras along the bridge.
He said the surveillance system would be connected to designated officials working with the police to monitor the bridge and respond to suspicious activities.
“We are going to have solar lights fixed all through. We are going to have CCTV here, and the CCTV is going to be downloaded to your phone.
“We are going to appoint people that it will be downloaded to, liaising with the police, so that if we see anybody, day and night, we can act,” Umahi said.
The minister described vandalism of public infrastructure as a national problem and urged Nigerians to protect government facilities.
“This is not an APC problem. It is a national problem,” he said.
Umahi condemned the theft of iron components from concrete roads, parapets, bridges and other public infrastructure, saying the government could not deploy personnel to every road and bridge in the country to guard them.
He also directed ministry controllers to arrest persons involved in illegal dredging and contractors who abandoned dangerous sections of roads without adequate protection for motorists.
The minister also directed contractors handling the Asaba bypass to provide proper drainage on both sides of the road to prevent erosion and protect nearby houses.
He commended the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for paying compensation to property owners affected by the Second Niger Bridge access road.
Umahi said the governor’s action demonstrated concern for affected residents and would help speed up the project while reducing traffic pressure in Asaba.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to rehabilitating critical roads and bridges across the country, despite the challenges facing the infrastructure sector.
The minister warned that contractors would be held accountable for their obligations and assured Nigerians that the government would take firm measures to ensure that public projects delivered value.
Umahi also inspected a failing section around the third abutment of the Second Niger Bridge following a report by a social media user.
The minister commended the individual for drawing the ministry’s attention to the problem, saying the report enabled officials to inspect the affected area promptly.
He said the ministry would take the necessary steps to address the issue and prevent further deterioration.
