Works Minister commends Infiouest International for progress, quality of work on Sections of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road

• Declares Emergency on the Dualization of Suleja-Minna Road, Hitherto Handled by Messrs Salini Nigeria Ltd.
• Hails As Legendary Mr. President’s Commitment to the Best Standard in Road Construction

The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen Engr Nweze David Umahi CON, on 28th June 2025, paid an inspection visit to Section I of Abuja-Kaduna- Zaria-Kano federal road being completed on Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.

A statement signed by Hon Barr Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works, noted that accompanied by the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo Esq, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Barr. Onyekachi Peter Nwebonyi, a PDP stalwart and spokesperson to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 Presidential campaign, Segun Sowunmi, and directors of key departments of the Federal Ministry of Works, the Honourable Minister elated by the progress and quality of  work being done by the contractor handling  the project, Infiouest International Limited, a development he said had vindicated the Federal Ministry of Works’ decision to severe the contract with Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd due to cost differentials.

He praised the commitment of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and vision bearer of the Renewed Hope Agenda,His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, in ensuring speedy and quality delivery of the project.

“Let me say that I am very grateful to Mr. President for the support in the reconstruction of this project. When we terminated this project because of the cost differences between the Ministry of Works and Julius Berger, it became a very big challenging task for me. But without the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, it would have been very difficult to redeem my integrity. Today, I can say that my integrity and that of the Ministry of Works have been redeemed by the quality of work that Infiouest is doing.

Recounting the additional work approved by Mr. President within the route of the project and the quality of work being done by the contractor, he said, ” In section I, which is 38 kilometres plus section II, which is 40 by 2, 80 kilometres, we have completed over 11 kilometres with reinforced concrete pavement. You need to see this road before now. We are pulverising. We are putting a stone base, about 80-inch stone base. We are putting a cement to mix it and compact it. We are putting Y-20 reinforcement. We have it in bridges and then a 20-cm intervals, and then we are putting a 16-millimetre reinforced concrete with wires, and then we are completing 200-millimetre reinforced concrete grade 40. And so we have completed 11 kilometers.”

It would be recalled  that  following  the high price submitted by Julius Berger Plc for the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road awarded  by the past administration, the Federal Executive Council under the federal government terminated the contract with Julius Berger Plc and approved  the award of contract for the completion of the outstanding sections of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road (Sections I & III), contract no. 8785, WR.17382/1 and the award of contract for the completion of outstanding works on Abuja- Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, Section II (Kaduna-Zaria) road in Kaduna State, Contract no. 8824, WR. 17421/1. There had been concerns over the deplorable state of the inherited project, which was a source of nightmare to road users before the intervention of Mr. President. But today, tremendous milestones have been attained in the completion of the road.The impression of the public on the government’s efforts to complete the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano project was aptly captured in the words of the Honourable Minister of State for Works when he was commending the stalwart of PDP, who came to see for himself the extent of work done on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project.

“This is something that is new in our politics because people in opposition stay in their comfort zones, and they criticize the government without knowing what is happening there. But you took your time to join my Honourable Minister, the working Minister of Works, to see for yourself and appreciate what the government of President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing in this country. Let me commend you highly for your patriotism and your vision for this country. I had an opportunity to discuss with you when we were coming to this place, and I saw that your passion and your commitment are for a greater and one Nigeria,” Umahi said.

Commending Mr. President for his commitment to the timely delivery of the  project, he said, “Let me also commend highly our dear President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for giving infrastructure a thriving place, particularly the Ministry of Works, because the resources are there, but of course it’s matched with commitment. Because it’s one thing to give resources, and it’s another thing to have the commitment for this project. And I must say that the Minister is somebody who is working day and night to actualize this feat.”

This is the shared view of the Deputy Majority Whip of the Senate, Sen. Barr. Onyekachi Peter Nwebonyi. “I commend you, the Honourable Minister of Works for being exceptional, because it is on record that you are the only Minister of Works that has always done constant supervision of projects, all geared towards ensuring value for money and quality job. Let me, on the other hand, appreciate our leader, the performing President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as also having been acknowledged even by the opposition as he’s doing well. So, I want to thank him for what he’s doing specifically on our road infrastructure. President Tinubu has done marvellously well in our road infrastructure, which is fundamental for economic prosperity. The one that impressed me most is the Lagos-Calabar Road that vias off Ebonyi, Benue, and will connect to Abuja,” Nwebonyi said.

In his remarks after being taken round the project, the PDP stalwart, Segun Sowunmi, said he was impressed by the quality and speed of the project execution, which he confirmed was of the same quality with the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway projects.

Sowunmi thanked the President of Nigeria for the good job he is doing in the area of road infrastructure development.

He used the opportunity to appeal to those engaging in destructive criticism, especially those who speak unpatriotically about Nigeria to have a change of heart, adding “I just want to thank you. And I want to through you, the members of the media, talk to the Nigerian people. We have our nation’s integrity to protect. We have our nation to jointly build. And we have our democracy to keep pushing. But by no means must democracy translate in a war to constantly shaming your country, never saying any good about your country, and instigating people only to hate and fight themselves. Thank you very much. I am happy.”

Meanwhile, the Honourable Minister of Works has declared an emergency on the state of the dualization of Suleja-Minna Road.

He said Mr. President was concerned by the deplorable state of the road and directed that urgent action should be taken to fix the road to restore the confidence of the road users.

He maintained that the contractor, Messrs. Salini Nigeria Ltd was responsible for the failure in the delivery of the project on time and in specification.

He added that the termination of the job due to non-performance is irrevocable.

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