It seems the Nigerian government has once again found itself in a familiar standoff with a construction giant, Julius Berger, over the long-overdue Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road. Minister of Works, David Umahi, is not here for the endless back-and-forth. He’s given the company a sharp ultimatum: either they accept the government’s N740.79 billion offer to complete the 82km section of the road within seven days, or the contract will be terminated. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? But as usual, there’s more to the story.
In a meeting at the Ministry Headquarters in Abuja, Umahi was serious when he addressed the new Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr. Pier Lubasch, and his predecessor, Dr. Lars Richter. According to the Minister, the delay in getting this project back on track is causing “untold hardship” for Nigerians, and it’s high time Julius Berger steps up or steps aside. In a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser, Orji Uchenna, the message was clear: accept the deal, or face the consequences.
Umahi’s frustrations are understandable. The Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road is a vital artery for millions, and its dilapidated state is nothing short of a national embarrassment. And yet, Julius Berger, a company that has historically been seen as the go-to for major infrastructural projects in Nigeria, is dragging its feet. It seems that every time the government tries to get the ball rolling, there’s another price hike, another delay, another excuse.
What’s worse is that, according to Umahi, the cost of this project has ballooned from ₦710 billion to ₦740 billion because of these endless delays. A 30 billion naira increase just from playing bureaucratic ping pong! You have to wonder, at what point does this stop being about inflation or cost adjustments and start looking like stalling tactics?
The Minister didn’t hold back when discussing the impact this delay is having on Nigerians. He pointed out that abandoned projects like this one are making life harder for the average citizen and, unsurprisingly, making the President a target of public frustration. He warned that if Julius Berger doesn’t get its act together, the government won’t hesitate to find another company to do the job. After all, as Umahi rightly noted, “Nigerians are crying, and they are insulting the President.” The Minister certainly doesn’t seem willing to sit back and let that continue.
Interestingly, while Umahi is raising red flags, the new Managing Director of Julius Berger is trying to sound diplomatic, promising to address the issues and reach a consensus. But let’s be real, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard these vague reassurances from big corporations. It’s a c case of “we’ll get back to you,” and yet here we are, still waiting for action. Dr. Pier Lubasch has some big shoes to fill, but Nigerians are tired of words, they need results.
It’s no wonder the outgoing Managing Director, Dr. Lars Richter, was quick to explain that the courtesy call to the Minister was merely to introduce his successor. It’s almost like he wanted to make it clear that he’s washing his hands of this mess.
The larger issue here is whether the Nigerian government will follow through on its threat to terminate contracts with companies that don’t deliver. This isn’t just about Julius Berger; it’s about a long history of contractors failing to meet deadlines while costs soar and Nigerians suffer. For too long, these companies have seemed untouchable, but maybe Umahi’s tough stance signals a shift. Maybe.
But until we see bulldozers on the ground and this road nearing completion, all we have is another round of empty promises, growing frustration, and a N740 billion price tag that keeps getting bigger with every delay.
