The Federal Government has described Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the country’s leading engineering construction company as unbeatable in technical quality, and also matchless in project delivery speed.
The remarks were made by the Honourable Minister of Works, a meritorious, seasoned and reputable engineer by vocation.
The Minister who was also the immediate past Executive Governor of Ebonyi State is worthily, substantively reputed to be a consumate developmentalist whose interventionist infrastructural works in Ebonyi State stand visibly strong and functional as a lasting testimony to his qualitative engineering professionalism.
Speaking during his inspection visit to the ongoing Abuja-Kano Road works, Umahi both at the project site in Kaduna, as well as at the Kaduna State Government House (Kashim Ibrahim House) said: “No one can beat Julius Berger on engineering construction quality, and no one can also beat Julius Berger on the speed of project delivery when funding is available for a project.
“Let us give that to them. From what I have seen, the contractors (Julius Berger) are doing a great job on the project.”
The Honourable Minister, amongst others, was accompanied on the visit by Senator Lawal of Kaduna State and senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Works.
The Ministry officials included the Director of Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Engineer Folorunsho Esan; the Director, Highways, North West, Engineer Taiwo W.A; the Director, Highways, North Central, Engineer Aganaba; the Deputy Director, North West Zone, Engineer Goni Mohammed; Federal Controller of Works, Kaduna State, Engineer Ibrahim Nmadu; and Federal Controller of Works and ER, Engineer Yakubu Usman.
Briefing the Minister on the progress of works on site, all relevant officials of the Federal Ministry of Works ascribed the delay of works, particularly within section one of the project between Kaduna and Abuja to include amongst other compelling factors earlier, serious security challenges, right of way issues as well as the onset of the rains.
They said the security challenges, however, have been significantly mitigated by government’s intervention as the contractors are now fully back on site and working progressively on the project.
The Project Manager of the Abuja-Kano Road works, Engineer Finn Drosdowski, while speaking during the Minister’s visit, thankMinister and his entourage for coming on the inspection visit.
While thanking the Federal Government for the project awarded to Julius Berger, Drosdowski assured the Minister that all things being equal, Julius Berger’s usual reliability to deliver the road project is a foregone conclusion.
“The works are progressing and the project will be accomplished,“ he said.
Drosdowski also thanked the Honourable
Minister for his kind words regarding Julius Berger’s attested premium technical quality, operational effectiveness and project delivery speed.
“These historical corporate values remain the driving force behind the company’s engineering work on the Abuja-Kano Road project, as indeed in all of the company’s projects, he said.
Umahi who expressed his satisfaction at the excellent quality of work being executed by Julius Berger on the project, however expressed his concern about the pace.
He promised to look into any factor that may be impeding the pace of the works.
The Minister added that he would speak with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) which is the funding agency for the project to see how funding can be improved for the project.
According to the Honourable Minister, “…We will look into all issues affecting the pace of the works, including funding.
“No contractor can work at a requested pace on a project without commensurate or properly structured funding.”
Umahi said he was instructed by Presidentt