The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi has said that any contractor using asphalt for road construction must sign a performance bond that the road will not fail within the lifetime of the project.
He also added that the federal government would no longer accept road contract certificates for payment generated by one person.
The minister made this statement while inspecting some road projects in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States on Wednesday.
The minister in a statement issued Thursday by the Director of Information, Press and Public Relations Unit, Blessing Lere-Adams, also directed the Controllers and Directors of the regions to ensure between Abuja and Port Harcourt they must fix the remedial works within the next 14 days.
He said: “Anyone can sign a paper for them to pay but as for me, I will not sign anything that I don’t know how it came about. If you want to do asphalt, continue with it, but you must sign a performance bond that the road must not fail within the lifetime of the project.
“I want Nigerians to know that overloading is not responsible for failure of the road, most of the contractors have jobs in more than ten locations with two equipment so they cannot cope with the volume of jobs.”
Umahi said he had directed that any project that road users cannot go through the entire length and breadth of the project awarded to a contractor, he would not sign the certificate, adding that contractors must maintain all the roads, the length and breath within their contract
He added: “ No longer will a certificate for payment be generated by one person. Contractor must sign it, resident engineer as well. State controllers, regional controllers, and they will all ensure inspections are done.
“State Commissioners of Works shall generate work done, prepare the certificate with calculations and geotechnical reports, sketches and valuation, then they will bring it to me, the moment I see that things are working, I will sign within 6 hours”
“I have directed that any project that motor users cannot go through the entire length and breadth of the project awarded to a contractor, I will not sign the certificate, contractors must maintain all the roads, the length and breath within their contract.
“I am directing the Controllers and Directors of the regions to ensure between Abuja and Port Harcourt they must fix the remedial works within the next 14 days. “
” How could a payment certificate be given for a road that has failed and the contractor is on site and you turn around to blame the leaders, who signs the papers?, You sign the paper and originate the certificate but I have directed that enough is enough, they must show me how increase in our contracts come about,” he queried.