The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned Setraco Nigeria Ltd. of potential blacklisting due to their alleged request for contract variation concerning the construction of the Ring Road 1 segment of the Southern Parkway.
The road project aims to connect various areas, including Area 11, Central Area, Area 3, Durumi, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway axis in the nation’s capital city.
Wike, expressing his stance during an inspection of several well-funded road projects on Wednesday, February 14, emphasized that the FCT Administration, under his leadership, will not entertain any requests for variation, deeming it unacceptable.
He said from the records, the FCTA had paid 97% for the project, but the company has failed to provide street lights, and upon inquiry, the company’s Managing Director talked about variation in the contract
He added that the FCTA and Setraco along with other construction companies handling FCT projects, had agreed on the funding pattern, which it has not failed to follow so far.
According to him: “Remember when I came on board, I had to call most of these companies, and I asked them, Will you be able to complete some of these projects, as part of our President’s one-year anniversary since he was inaugurated? We agreed on the funding pattern, and I can authoritatively tell you that we have not failed.
“When I asked them about the street lights, he (the company’s managing director) talked about variation. From the records that I have, we have paid 97%.
“Of course, you know I will never accept that because we have funded the project very well without any failure on our part. I have told them categorically and clearly that there cannot be any variation on that project.
“The managing director was there, and he knows we are serious about it. If they agreed in the first phase, but they are asking for the second phase, then how would you feel when you failed us in the first phase? So the issue of variation is not our table, as it would not be accepted”.
He, however, said what Setraco is doing is quite comprehensive, which will change the landscape of that area, adding: “The quality of the job that the company is carrying out is good.”.
On his part, the Managing Director of Setraco Nigeria Ltd, Ziad Mouannes, who received the Minister and his encouragement, insisted that the company be allowed to have a meeting with the officials of the FCTA to discuss and settle the matter of contention.
Mouannes, the company remains committed to the project, hence, it was open for further engagement with the FCTA, to reconcile and rectify the street light issue.
