The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has lauded frontline engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for its prompt remobilisation to its Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, AKR project site and working assiduously to assuage the trauma of commuters and related users of the ever-busy highway.
Umahi spoke weekend in Kaduna and Kano during intermittent media interaction when he paid a working visit to the 375km-long road even as he declared that the months of frictions and misunderstanding between his ministry and Julius Berger are over.
The minister said the AKR project should be ready for commissioning May 29, 2025, adding that it has been split among three contractors with Julius Berger ceding some kilometres of the road to Dangote-Hitech Construction Company Limited and BUA Group.
He said “however, we agreed with Berger that for them to complete this job by May next year, they must come up in four sections and right now they are working in one section. Let me commend Julius Berger very highly for very good job, quality job, and a lot of what they are doing; we are very happy with the area that has been completed.
“However we do not want work on this road, Abuja to Kano to last beyond May 29th 2025, so we are going to be discussing with Julius Berger; and let me commit that all your outstanding certificates we will be able to pay you within one week, so if you have any certificate that is due or new one, we will be able to pay you”.