Minister of Works, David Umahi, has warned that road contractors who fail to meet stipulated timelines or quality standards with any Federal Government project will have their contracts terminated and re-issued to others.

Umahi sounded the warning on Saturday at a stakeholders’ engagement on the alignment of Sections 3B and 4 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Umahi observed that out of the full course of the 700km project, 27Km of Section 3b and 80 km of Section 4, totalling 107 km, fell within the borders of Akwa Ibom State, being the fourth longest portion of the entire coastal highway within a single state.

“We use this opportunity to warn CCECC, out of 35 kilometres, they just completed 2.5 kilometres double carriage way and 4.5 on single; that is very terrible. You talk to them, they say it is because of compensation,” Umahi said.

“Our dear governor (Pastor Umo Eno) has since settled the compensation issue, so we have given them a marching order to mobilise to at least three sections of the road. Mr President has given enough money to fund the project; the same thing with Julius Berger.”

Umahi directed the contractors to mobilise to site, reaffirming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had released sufficient funds for the projects.

“By the end of this coming week, if Julius Berger fails to remobilise to site, and CCECC fails to get mobilised in at least three sections, the jobs will be terminated.

“The worst of the roads in the entire South-South remains this Akwa-Ibom to Cross River through Itu and Udoakpan Ekpo, and also the section that is being done by RCC.

“RCC has collected over N40 billion on that road, 15 kilometres of road, N156 billion inherited from the past administration, we have kept the price, even though we don’t believe in it, but since it has been awarded and signed; but they are playing tricks.

“We have been on them to change their minds but by the end of next week, our 14 days’ notice of termination will elapse and we would terminate the project and give it to those who have mastery in the laying of concrete to come and use concrete in doing those roads,” the minister added.

He also gave both construction companies one week to remobilise to the site or face the termination of their contracts.