Arewa group, under the umbrella of Northern Professionals, has expressed their support for the decision by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to re-award the contract that was revoked on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway to a new construction company.

According to the group, the decision to re-award the road contract on such an important route linking northern states, after Julius Berger fails to deliver on the scheduled date, is laudable.

The Arewa group explained that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, had revoked a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway contract handled by Julius Berger Construction Company over a price dispute and completion timeline.

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In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of Northern Professionals, Dr. Isa Samaila Getso and Comrade Ibrahim Mohammad Geidam, the group, which expressed joy over the re-awarded contract, said that “the initial fears raised over possible delay and abandonment have finally been allayed.”

The statement further stressed: “We were really disturbed after the contract was terminated. But today, as a mark of appreciation, we want to unequivocally thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking proactive action to resume work to complete the Abuja-Kaduna road.

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“The truth is that we were highly bitter and unsettled when the news filtered that the contract handled by a renowned contractor, Julius Berger, was revoked. But with the recent decision, we are happy that the road, which has become a death trap, will now be completed.”

The Northern group further added that revocation of the road contract is a signal to all contractors that the federal government will no longer tolerate unnecessary delays in the completion of contracts under the guise of variations and rising costs of materials.