The Federal Government on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Julius Berger over the completion of the Abuja-Kano Expressway.
David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister for Works said the German construction company has a seven-day deadline to accept its N740.79 billion offer to complete the project or risk the contract termination.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting, Mr Umahi said the FG has been on the negotiation table with Julius Berger since September 2023.
Mr Umahi said that having spent so much time on negotiation alone, decisive action needed to be taken by the government on the matter.
He said, “We are giving them seven days if, after seven days, they don’t accept our offer, which is the highest so far in the country, we have no any other option than to issue them 14 days termination notice in accordance with the contract laws.”
The minister also announced that procurement processes are being finalised on the Shagamu-Benin road is undergoing a critical rehabilitation.
In addition, the Abuja-Kano road, earlier slated for a tax credit arrangement, will now be procured without such a provision, with the 162-kilometer Berger section already approved for N740 billion.
Also, operations on the Oyo-Ogbomosho Road, which had been abandoned for 18 years, will resume while the Makurdi-Katsina-Ala road will undergo significant repairs.
