The Federal Government has terminated the involvement of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited in the Abuja-bound carriageway of the Mararaba–Keffi road reconstruction project over persistent non-compliance and poor performance.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision during an inspection tour of the project in Nasarawa State over the weekend. He said the company had failed to maintain the alternative carriageway despite repeated interventions, prompting the ministry to reassign the work to local contractors.
According to Umahi, the 43.65-kilometre dual carriageway will now be completed by indigenous firms using reinforced concrete technology. The new contractors will handle both the inner and outer shoulders to ensure the road meets modern construction standards.
He expressed disappointment at the contractor’s lack of cooperation, noting that several certificates of payment had already been issued despite substandard work. The minister warned that the government would no longer tolerate negligence or disregard for directives, especially on critical infrastructure.
Accountability and stricter supervision
Umahi reiterated that safety and quality would remain the ministry’s top priorities as the project transitions to local control. He directed that all contractors working on federal highways must maintain pothole-free surfaces and finish the shoulders before laying asphalt or concrete binders.
The minister further warned that any contractor or project controller who fails to report lapses within 24 hours would face disciplinary action. He emphasized that federal road projects must not only be completed on schedule but also deliver lasting value to Nigerians.
“The days of contractors prioritizing profit over quality are over,” Umahi reportedly told officials during the visit. He urged state governments to collaborate more closely with the federal ministry to identify and correct inefficiencies that could lead to project delays or safety risks.
He also hinted that the decision to withdraw the project from China Harbour was part of a broader reform agenda aimed at ensuring accountability in Nigeria’s infrastructure delivery.
Cost concerns and project scope
Defending the project’s cost, Umahi explained that road construction expenses cannot be generalized per kilometre since the materials, design, and construction techniques differ. He said concrete construction, now adopted for the Mararaba–Keffi section, has a higher upfront cost but a longer lifespan compared to asphalt.
The minister added that the road length had been increased from 43 to 45 kilometres to fully utilise the N73 billion earlier allocated to the project by the previous administration. Variations in cost, he said, also arise from factors such as contingency provisions and the possibility of price adjustments under the variation of price (VOP) clause.
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Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who accompanied the minister on the inspection, commended the renewed focus on quality and transparency, noting that the road is a vital economic link between Abuja and the North-Central corridor.
Strategic importance of the project
The Mararaba–Keffi road forms a crucial part of the 87.3-kilometre Abuja–Keffi–Akwanga–Lafia–Makurdi dual carriageway, a major transport artery connecting the Federal Capital Territory with the North-Central and South-East regions. The project, which features a two-way, six-lane design, aims to ease congestion, reduce travel time, and boost economic activity across FCT, Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Abia, Imo, and Rivers states.
As of May 2025, government records showed that 42 percent of the Mararaba–Keffi section had been completed, with the full project scheduled for completion in June 2026. However, the removal of the Chinese contractor and transfer of responsibilities to local firms could impact timelines unless immediate mobilisation and coordination efforts are achieved.
Umahi assured that the ministry is fully committed to delivering the road on schedule, adding that the shift to concrete construction represents the government’s long-term vision for durable and cost-efficient road infrastructure.
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