The Federal Government has terminated some sections of the Abuja-Lokoja, Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina, and Okene–Okene-Ajaokuta roads in Kogi State over non-performance by the contractors handling the projects.
Works Minister Engr Dave Umahi said the decision was in line with one of the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, to enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth, stressing that the road projects were reviewed before termination.
The minister, who announced through the Director of Public Relations in the ministry, Mohammed A. Ahmed, during a press briefing in Abuja, said the terminated projects would be re-awarded, adding that the decisions were mutually reached during a meeting with the Minister of Works, the Directors of Highways responsible for Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Clement Ogbuagu, and the Director of the North Central Zone, Engr. Salihu K. Ahmed, the Federal Controller of Works in Kogi State, as well as representatives of the Contractors, on Monday, November 25, 2025.
He claimed that the decisions reached after the meeting were borne out of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s desire to ease the suffering of road users and get value for the funds paid on the prolonged contracts, given their nonperformance.
Ahmed said, “The following directives on some Sections of the Abuja-Lokoja, Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina, and Okene–Ajaokuta Roads in Kogi State: Contract No. 8493 – provision of culverts and drains at a flood-prone area on Abuja–Lokoja Road (Section 2: CH.13+000 – CH.16+000), contractor: Messrs Sadogi (Nigeria) Limited, award date: 4th April, 2024. Progress: 39.04 per cent completed with 112.88 per cent time elapsed. Directives: Mutual termination of the contract based on effluxion of time.
Contractor to continue only within the limit of the advance payment received, after which the final determination of the account will be carried out.
“Contract number 8476 – rehabilitation of Abuja–Lokoja Road, Section 4A (CH.23+400 – CH.26+400 RHS)Contractor: Messrs Venus Construction (Nigeria) Ltd. Award Date: 13th July, 2024. Progress: 33.79 per cent completed with 131.15 per cent time elapsed. Directives: Mutual termination of the contract based on effluxion of time and contractor to proceed only within the limit of advance payment received, with final determination of account to follow.
“Contract number 8490 – rehabilitation of Abuja–Lokoja road, section IVB (Flooded Section CH.23+400 – CH.26+395 LHS)
Contractor: Messrs Sailthrough Engineering Services Ltd. Directive: The Minister directs the contractor to submit a letter of commitment to complete the project on or before 20th December, 2025. The contractor has complied, despite outstanding payments from the Ministry.
“Contract number 7648 – reconstruction of Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe road. Contractor: Messrs CCECC (Nigeria) Ltd
Award Date: 18th November 2022. Progress: 2.02 per cent completed with 146.92 per cent time elapsed. Directives: Mutual termination of the contract based on effluxion of time, contractor to work only within the limit of the advance payment received until the final determination of the account is concluded and mutual termination of supervisory consultancy services due to lack of funding.
“Contract number 7239 – rehabilitation of Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina–Ayingba road, contractor: TEC Engineering Company (Nigeria) Ltd. Award Date: 3rd February, 2022. Progress: 1.04 per cent completed with 188.77 per cent time elapsed.
Directives: Mutual termination of the contract based on effluxion of time, contractor to work only within the limit of the advance payment received pending final determination of the account and mutual termination of supervisory consultancy services due to lack of funding.
“Contract number 7333 – reconstruction and completion works on Abuja–Lokoja dualization, section III (Abaji – Koton Karfe, CH.82+000 – CH.131+362). Contractor: Messrs Geld/Triacta (Nigeria) Limited (JV). Award Date: 7th March, 2022. Progress: 16.71 per cent completed with 125 per cent time elapsed. Directives contractor must resume work on the bad sections of the road within seven (7) days and reinstate shoulders to the stone-base level and patch potholes to ensure free flow of traffic during construction and Contract No. 8552 – rehabilitation of Koton Karfe–Abaji Road (47.862km, Abuja Bound), contractor Trucrete Solutions Limited.
Award Date: 22nd May, 2024. Progress: 40 per cent completed with 58.33 per cent time elapsed.”
He continued, “The project—being executed with concrete rigid pavement (CRCP)—is progressing steadily and is on course for timely completion.”
On the emergency intervention on the Abuja–Lokoja Corridor, the minister also directed that all outstanding works, including those from mutually terminated contracts across the Abuja–Lokoja corridor, be compiled for immediate emergency intervention.
In another vein, Engr. Umahi commended Messrs JRB Construction (Nigeria) Limited, an indigenous company, for good performance on Section one of the Abuja–Lokoja road and directed that the project be completed before 10th December, 2025.
Engr Umahi expressed profound appreciation to the President for what he described as continued support and interventions on the Abuja–Lokoja road, spanning a total of 358km (179km × 2).
He appealed for the patience of all road users along the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway as intervention projects progress simultaneously, assuring the public that relief was on the way and that works will be completed soon.
