By Oghenefejiro Emado
28, August 2026
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, on Thursday issued tough directives to contractors handling federal road projects in Delta State, ordering emergency repairs on damaged sections of the Benin-Asaba Highway and the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited over delays on the Asaba-Onitsha road.
Umahi gave the orders during separate inspections of the Asaba axis of the Second Niger Bridge access road and the First Niger Bridge, where he expressed concern over the condition of roads and alleged abandonment of projects.
During an inspection of the access road to the Second Niger Bridge, the minister directed the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, to repair damaged sections of the Benin-Asaba Highway within 14 days.
He specifically cited the Ubulu-Okiti and Onicha-Ugbo sections, as well as service lanes leading to the bridge access road where asphalt had been removed.
“I am giving you 14 days to fix the access, the service lane you removed the asphalt. You have to fix it immediately, whether you are paid or not. It is my right to insist that you fix it to lessen the problem of the people,” Umahi said.
The Minister also ordered emergency intervention on sections between Chainage 103 to 105 and Chainage 106 to 107, covering about four kilometres of dual carriageway, to ease the suffering of motorists.
Umahi minister noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had the capacity to repair the sections within 14 days but was constrained by an existing concession agreement.
He said the Federal Government had written to the concessionaire over failure to maintain the road, adding that government could no longer allow Nigerians to suffer.
Umahi criticised the quality of work on some sections, saying newly laid asphalt between kilometre 8 and 15 failed within 24 hours. He described it as evidence of poor workmanship.
At the First Niger Bridge, Umahi ordered the arrest of the MD of Hartland Nigeria Limited for allegedly abandoning the 11-kilometre Asaba-Onitsha road project despite receiving about N14 billion.
The project covers Summit Junction in Asaba to Head Bridge in Onitsha.
“We gave it to the contractor called Hartland and we paid them, I think, up to N14 billion.
We reached an agreement that they would finish the 11 kilometres with the money and do the channelisation and hydraulic structures. But today, they have done just about 40 per cent of the agreement,” he said.
“Controller, you look for the MD of Hartland and arrest him.”
The minister also directed the ministry to recover funds paid to Hartland through banks and to review all certificates and payments linked to the company. He ordered immediate repairs of failed sections around Head Bridge.
On the Second Niger Bridge access project awarded to CCECC at N148 billion, Umahi said about 4.47km of dual carriageway had been completed, representing 26.7 per cent progress.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved alternative funding after NNPC tax-credit funding stopped.
He urged CCECC to continue work, assuring payment. “I encourage you to please go ahead, you will be paid,” he said.
Umahi also decried the vandalisation of the First Niger Bridge, where expansion joints, bolts and steel components had been removed.
He ordered immediate welding, milling and asphalt works, and announced plans to install solar-powered streetlights and CCTV cameras linked to police and designated officials.
“This is not an APC problem. It is a national problem,” he said on vandalism, urging Nigerians to protect public infrastructure.
Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who represented Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, commended Umahi for the inspection.
Aniagwu said the state government had intervened in some areas, including a flyover at Chainage 64 to 65, and expressed hope contractors would accelerate work ahead of Yuletide.
Umahi also commended Gov. Oborevwori for paying compensation to property owners affected by the Second Niger Bridge access road.
The Director of Highways, Bridges and Design at the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Saidu Musa, said the Second Niger Bridge access project was awarded in March 2025 and progress would have been higher with adequate funding.
Umahi reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to fixing critical road infrastructure and warned that contractors would be held accountable.
