MIRIAM NNOLI 
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Wednesday, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Julius Berger to accept the Federal Government’s offer of N740.79bn for the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road.
Umahi gave the ultimatum when the new Managing Director of Julius Berger Plc, Dr Pier Lubasch, accompanied by the outgoing Managing Director, Dr Lars Richter, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister at the Ministry Headquarters in Abuja.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, Orji Uchenna, said the company risks termination of the contract if it does not accept the offer.
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“The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON has for the umpteenth time called on Julius Berger Plc. to show corporate patriotism by accepting the Federal Government’s approved reviewed total contract sum of ₦740, 797,204,713.25 (Seven Hundred and Forty Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Two Hundred and Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Naira, Twenty-Five Kobo for the completion of the rehabilitation of the 82 km section II of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, contract No.6350.”
He lamented that the delay in mobilising to the site despite the approved funds by the Federal Executive Council is causing untold hardship to the road users and that the Federal Government is at the receiving end of the situation.
“So if Berger is not doing it, then let’s have other people do the job and within the time that we can control price.
“We’ve had more than 20 letters from Berger on this. It is a ping pong game from Julius Berger.
“The prices rose from ₦710 billion to ₦740 billion because of these delays. And if we continue the delays, it is the problem of the Ministry of Works.” the statement added
