One week after the Federal Government announced
the cancellation of the concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to
Bi-Courtney Highway Services and the award of an “emergency reconstruction”
work to two firms, indications have emerged that no serious work will begin on
the road until next year.
Instead, Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and RCC
Nigeria Limited are expected to use the three weeks before Christmas to repair
the worst portions of the road.
Our correspondent gathered that serious work
might not begin on the road until next year because the details of the contract
were still being finalised.
At the moment, the cost of the project has not
been determined, while the contract procurement process has not been complied
with by subjecting it to scrutiny by the Bureau of Public Procurement in line
with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, before final approval by the Federal
Executive Council.
A source said, “The whole thing is still complex.
Provision was not made for the road in the 2012 budget and many questions are
being raised: When were the contractors pre-qualified? Has the contract gone
through BPP? What is the contract sum?
“The contractors will need time to do their
costing and mobilise to site. Usually, they buy new equipment for such kind of
job, and this will take some time. The government and the contractors are
talking about using standard rates, but the law does not provide for this.”
However, this is causing anxiety among
stakeholders, who feel the road may not get the attention it required from the
Federal Government.
A source in the Federal Ministry of Works, who
asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the subject,
gave an indication that the contract given to the two construction firms might
not be for the reconstruction of the road.
The source said, “Though the details are still
sketchy, I think the contract is not for reconstruction of the road.
Bi-Courtney was supposed to rehabilitate the road first due to its bad state
before reconstruction it, as reconstruction will take some years, that was why
it mobilised Borini Prono and CCC to site recently.
“If Julius Berger and RCC are to reconstruct,
then the Federal Government will have to introduce tolls on the road, and I can
confirm that that is not in consideration at the moment. So, I think the
contract is just for rehabilitation of the road.”
The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, had
last Monday while announcing the cancellation arrangement with Bi-Courtney,
said, “Due to the senseless carnage on this important expressway, which is part
of Arterial Route A1, the Federal Government has also decided to embark on the
emergency reconstruction of the expressway.
“Consequently, the Federal Ministry of Works has
engaged the services of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and RCC Nigeria Limited to
commence work immediately on the reconstruction of the expressway. While
Julius Berger will handle Section 1 from Lagos to the Shagamu Interchange; RCC
Nigeria Limited will be responsible for Section II from Shagamu to Ibadan.”
However, Julius Berger has promised to move into
site before the next Christmas.
The Public Affairs Adviser of the company, Mr.
Clement Iloba, confirmed the development to one of our correspondents in a
telephone interview, although he could not say whether the contract was for
repair or rehabilitation of the road.
The Punch
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