Construction firms say efforts ongoing to complete road projects across Nigeria
The Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), the umbrella body of construction companies in Nigeria, has said that efforts were ongoing with the Ministry of Works for the completion of road projects across the country.
Mr Vincent Barrah, President of the Federation, disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja.
Barrah explained that the new policy requiring contractors to sign a reviewed contract document was hindering progress on various sites.
He said that the federation had met with the Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, and had a robust discussion on various issues affecting the members.
“We actually had an understanding with him and agreed to move forward.
”We looked at various contractual issues; these are issues affecting existing contracts generally. They became issues of concern because the minister raised them with the press.
“There are issues of contract addendum, expiration of old contracts and signing of new ones.
”So, our members had to discuss the way forward because most of the jobs are no longer ongoing and the minister is worried and wants work to resume.
”The modalities of how to resume based on the current realities are being discussed and we are optimistic that the issues will be resolved.”
Barrah noted that issues of contracts differ according to locations, adding that every contract was unique.
“That is why the federation is insisting that each contract should be addressed with its uniqueness, and issues affecting that project should be discussed and resolved for progress.
”We are a federation consisting of notable construction companies in Nigeria, s we are looking for the way forward. It is in the national interest that all the issues between our members and the ministry of works are resolved,” he said.
