Locals will beat you up if you're on site without signing new contract - Umahi fires Contractors in video

David Umahi, the Minister of Roads and Works has threatened to instigate communities against contractors who come to construction sites without working.

Umahi commented after he issued an ultimatum to contractors handling the Lokoja-Benin and Obajana Junction-Benin Road projects in Kogi and Edo States to sign the revised contracts immediately or face termination by the Ministry of Works.

He made this known during a meeting at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi-Abuja with representatives from Mothercat Ltd, CCECC Ltd, Dantata & Sawoe Ltd, CGC Ltd, and RCC Ltd, as reported on the Ministry’s website early this week.

He said: "If you don't sign the contract and you are still on site, I will ask the locals to beat you up. Yes, I am on camera and I mean it. You can't be on-site, you are not working, and people are dying, vehicles are falling and we fold our hands and leave you, we will not leave you. So if you are not working, park your things out of that site."

Umahi expressed frustration with contractors’ reluctance to sign updated documents despite prior agreements on revised specifications.

Umahi noted that the project’s budget had escalated from N121 billion to over N870 billion before President Tinubu’s tenure. Upon his appointment, he paused approvals to review costs, leading to a rescope after discovering that some sections were unsuitable for asphalt.

“So, the position of the government is that if you are not signing the contracts between today and tomorrow, you will forgo the jobs. You can go to court. We will not enter into any condition for further negotiation.

“This contract is over N2 billion per kilometer. You don’t have equipment to do the work. Let me even assure you that if you are signing the contract, you will sign it alongside the basic rates. You sign it alongside the timetable, and you deploy in three sections, or I will terminate the job. Enough of playing with the psyche of the people,” Umahi stated.