Northern Professionals have backed the decision of the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, to re-award the revoked section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway to a new company.
DAILYPOST recalls that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, had revoked a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway contract handled by Julius Berger Construction Company over a price dispute and completion timeline.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, the Chairman and Secretary of Northern Professionals, Dr. Isa Samaila Getso and Comrade Ibrahim Mohammad Geidam, expressed joy over the re-award of the contract and said the initial fears raised over possible delays and abandonment had finally been allayed.
According to the statement, the decision to re-award the road contract for such an important route linking northern states after Julius Berger failed to deliver on the scheduled date is laudable.
“We were really disturbed after the contract was terminated. But today, as a mark of appreciation, we want to unequivocally thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking proactive action to resume work and complete the Abuja-Kaduna road.
“The truth is that we were highly bittered and unsettled when the news filtered that the contract handled by a renowned contractor, Julius Berger, was revoked. But with the recent decision, we are happy that the road, which had become a death trap, will now be completed,” it said.
According to the statement, the revocation of the road contract is a signal to all contractors that the federal government will no longer tolerate unnecessary delays in the completion of contracts under the guise of variations and rising costs of materials.