TheCable

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says he will blacklist Setraco Nigeria Ltd if the company fails to deliver the southern parkway road project before May 29.

Wike gave the warning on Wednesday after inspecting some road projects in the FCT.

The southern parkway road, when completed, will connect the Ecumenical Centre, through the federal capital development authority (FCDA) office complex; the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway in the city centre.

When the FCT minister enquired about the installation of streetlights on the road, Ziad Mouannes, managing director of Setraco, said representatives of the construction company would have to meet with the minister to discuss issues of variation with him.

But Wike said he would not be a party to any variation, noting that he had paid the company about 97 percent of the contract sum.

“We agreed on the funding pattern, and I can authoritatively tell you that we have not failed. When I asked them about the streetlights, he (the company’s managing director) talked about variation. From the records that I have, we have paid 97 per cent,” NAN quoted Wike as saying.

“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 that there cannot be any variation on that project. If they don’t complete it on time, I am going to blacklist the company, that is the truth of the matter. Nobody will toy with us; nobody will try to outsmart us; we are not going to accept it.”

The minister said he is satisfied with the quality and progress of road projects he has inspected.

“We saw what Setraco is doing, it is quite comprehensive, and that will change the landscape of the area, and I am happy with the quality of job,” Wike added.

“Then we went to Guzape where Gilmor Engineering Nigeria Ltd is constructing the road network, and we are happy that the company reiterated its commitment to deliver the project by May 20.

“At Arterial Road N20, also by Gilmor, from northern parkway (N8) Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way to the Outer northern express way, you can also see the quality of work they are doing.

“I strongly believe that we will meet the time, and I am happy with the quality of Job.”