The Federal Government has warned that it will take over 50 per cent of the rehabilitation and expansion contract for the Ibadan–Ilesha Expressway if the contractor fails to comply with directives on immediate remedial work.
The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, issued the warning on Wednesday during an inspection of the project.
Umahi said that although the contractor was making progress, the government would not hesitate to reduce the scope of the contract if urgent palliative work was not carried out on failed sections of the road.
“They are doing well because they are working on 216 kilometres of road. However, they must understand their capacity.
“If they don’t do what I am about to issue, then I will take over 108 kilometres of the road; that is one full carriageway,” he said.
The minister directed the contractor to deploy five full work gangs for concrete laying, explaining that the first gang must handle work from chainage zero to chainage 25 on both sides of the road, covering 50 kilometres.
He added that the remaining four gangs should focus on other failed portions of the highway to provide immediate palliatives.
Umahi also warned that the Federal Government would not pay for unnecessary earthwork on the project.
“I have seen that the contractor is creating work for itself. There is no need for this entire earthwork being carried out. Earthwork will come after the concrete is laid.
“All that is needed is to work on the shoulders. There is no justification for removing laterite only to bring it back later. I will not pay for it,” he stressed.
Despite the warning, the minister commended the contractor for addressing flooded sections of the road.
He assured road users that palliative works would commence immediately, noting that the government would fund the asphalt repairs through counterpart funding.
“I want people to feel relieved on this road,” Umahi said.