The Federal Government has officially terminated the N740 billion contract awarded to Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc for the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna dual carriageway, citing the company’s failure to meet performance expectations.
The decision follows a seven-day ultimatum issued by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, last month, urging the company to accept an offer from the government to complete the 82km Section II of the road. Umahi expressed frustration over the ongoing delays, noting that despite the release of approved funds by the Federal Executive Council, there had been no progress on the site, causing significant hardship for road users.
An official statement from the Ministry of Works, released on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, confirmed the termination after the company failed to act within the deadline. The ministry also highlighted that despite months of discussions with Julius Berger, no meaningful progress had been made.
While portions of the road, including the Kaduna-Zaria and Zaria-Kano sections, have been completed or are nearing completion, the Abuja-Kaduna stretch has seen only 27% progress over the past six years.
At a recent event, Minister Umahi also criticized Julius Berger for allegedly politicizing the project, suggesting that delays were intended to undermine the current administration’s efforts.
