 |
| David Umahi (Minister of Works) |
The Order:
Minister of Works Dav
id Umahi has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited.
The Project:
An 11km section of the Benin-Onitsha Expressway, from Summit Junction to Head Bridge.
The Allegation:
The firm received N14 billion but has delivered only 40% completion, including channelisation and hydraulic structures.
The Action:
Ministry officials have been directed to audit all payments, recover funds, and immediately fix the Head Bridge approach.
The Federal Government is taking a hard line on road contractors as Minister of Works, David Umahi, ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited during an inspection tour.
The inspection, which took place along the Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha corridor in Delta State on Friday, focused on the critical Benin-Onitsha Expressway.
According to the Minister, Hartland was awarded the full 11-kilometre stretch from Summit Junction to Head Bridge but has failed to meet its obligations despite significant funding.
“Umahi said Hartland had received about N14 billion for the project but had completed only about 40% of the work,”
the ministry noted.
Umahi expressed frustration over the lack of progress after previous engagements with the company’s leadership.
“I’ve called the MD to discuss their return to the site. I am going to look for him and have him arrested,” - Umahi stated.
He has now directed the ministry’s controller to locate the MD and initiate processes to recover money paid to the contractor.
Why This Matters for Business and Logistics
The Benin-Onitsha corridor is one of Nigeria’s busiest commercial arteries, linking the South-South to the South-East. Delays here directly impact haulage costs, travel time, and supply chain efficiency for businesses operating between Lagos, Onitsha and beyond. The minister’s move signals stricter contract enforcement in the works sector.
Beyond Hartland:
Second Niger Bridge Vandalism
During the same inspection, Umahi flagged a separate infrastructure risk: the vandalism of bolts, steel members and expansion joints on the Second Niger Bridge.
He ordered immediate replacement of the vandalised components and directed the installation of solar-powered lights and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to secure the strategic asset and prevent further sabotage.
What’s Next:
The Ministry will conduct a full audit of Hartland’s payment certificates across all its projects. The company faces sanctions if found to have defaulted.
#DavidUmahi #HartlandNigeria #BeninOnitshaExpressway #NigeriaInfrastructure #MinistryOfWorks #RoadConstruction #SecondNigerBridge #DeltaState #NigeriaNews #InfrastructureDevelopment
No comments:
Post a Comment