Johnchuks Onuanyim 
The Minister of Works Dave Umahi yesterday decried a paucity of funds to finance road projects. He spoke at a meeting with the contractors handling projects under the ministry. He warned that contractors should not wait for mobilization fees or payments and abandon their projects. He also warned them over their demand for Variation of Price (VOP).
According to him, contractors should stop asking for VOP on some of the things they caused in their projects. Umahi said the first 47km section of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway would be completed in May 2025. He noted that the Federal Government had so far disbursed N10bn as compensation to property owners affected by the demolition necessary for the construction of the highway.
