The Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Goronyo, has directed Chukwuemeka Agbasi, Managing Director of the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to compile and submit a list of contractors who have failed to deliver on road projects awarded to them.
This directive was issued during Goronyo’s familiarization tour of FERMA’s South West operations, where State Coordinators presented updates on the progress and challenges in executing their responsibilities.
The Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, disclosed this development in a statement on Tuesday.
Goronyo emphasized the government’s intolerance for project abandonment, warning contractors to meet their obligations or face severe consequences, including penalties, contract termination, and disqualification from future bids. “The era of abandoning projects is over,” he asserted.
“These contracts are awarded and paid for with taxpayers’ money, who expect value in return,” Goronyo added, directing that the list of defaulting contractors be submitted to FERMA headquarters within a week.
To enhance project oversight, the minister proposed the establishment of a robust Technical Committee to monitor FERMA projects nationwide and ensure quality standards are upheld. He acknowledged the challenges facing FERMA but expressed confidence in overcoming them.
Commending the Federal Road Management Engineers in the South West, Goronyo assured them that their concerns would be addressed to improve FERMA’s effectiveness.
“The country must tighten its belt and confront these challenges head-on,” he said. “We now have a President who is determined to tackle these challenges without complaint.”
He urged all stakeholders to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for national development, stating, “We must be ready to support one another, approach things differently, and back His Excellency in delivering on his mandate.”
As part of his commitment to transparency, Goronyo pledged to make unscheduled visits to project sites to evaluate contractors’ performance. He also highlighted staff welfare as a key priority for the Ministry.
In a related development, Goronyo inaugurated a solar-powered streetlight project in the Isale-Eko community of Lagos State, a FERMA initiative aimed at improving socio-economic conditions and enhancing security.
“This project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” the minister stated, urging residents to safeguard the infrastructure against vandalism.
The solar-powered streetlight project reflects the government’s broader commitment to fostering community development and addressing critical challenges through innovative solutions.
