Minister of Works David Umahi has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited over the company’s failure to complete an 11-kilometre section of the Benin-Onitsha Expressway despite receiving about N14bn from the Federal Government.
Umahi issued the directive on Friday during an inspection of the road, where he expressed concern over the poor condition of the affected section and the slow pace of work.
The minister said Hartland had been paid the funds with an agreement to complete the stretch between Summit Junction and a bridge, including the construction of drainage and other hydraulic structures.
However, he said the contractor had completed only about 40 per cent of the agreed work.
Following the development, Umahi directed ministry officials to locate the company’s managing director and have him arrested. He also ordered officials to obtain records of payments and project certificates linked to Hartland’s contracts.
The minister said the government would take steps to recover money paid to the contractor if the company failed to meet its contractual obligations.
He further directed the ministry’s directors to engage the banks involved in the payments and begin the process of recovering the funds.
Umahi also ordered an inspection of two bridges along the affected section and an assessment of about one kilometre of the road to determine immediate measures for reducing traffic congestion.
He criticised contractors for allowing road conditions to deteriorate, arguing that timely maintenance could have prevented some of the hardship experienced by motorists.
The minister subsequently directed ministry controllers nationwide to ensure that contractors maintain roads under construction, even when there are outstanding payments.
According to him, contractors should not allow sections of roads to become impassable simply because payments are pending.
Umahi also ordered the immediate arrest of anyone found carrying out unauthorised dredging activities along roads under the ministry’s supervision.
Another contractor, TCCCC, was directed to construct drainage channels along a bypass where its activities had reportedly increased the risk of erosion to nearby homes.
Umahi said the contractor would remain responsible for protecting residents’ properties even though payment for the work had not yet been made.
The minister commended Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for compensating property owners affected by the road project, saying the intervention showed concern for residents and the local economy.
He also urged officials in Anambra and Delta states to intensify their monitoring of contractors and ensure that road users are not subjected to avoidable hardship.
The Benin-Onitsha Expressway is a major route connecting Edo, Delta and Anambra states and is vital to the movement of passengers and goods across the southern region.
