The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has revoked the contract awarded to Levant Construction Ltd for the reconstruction of Section 1 (Benin–Imasabor) of the Benin–Sapele–Warri Road over non-performance.
The contract, initially granted under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, was terminated following Levant’s failure to resume work despite multiple warnings and a final termination notice.
Umahi made the announcement on Wednesday after a meeting in Abuja with the chief executives of SKECC Nigeria Ltd and GELD Construction Ltd to review delays on the project.
Also present were Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Goronyo, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, and other senior officials.
The minister directed the Permanent Secretary to finalise the revocation, notify Levant’s bank for Advance Payment Guarantee recovery, and initiate a joint project measurement. He also warned that the EFCC would be involved if refunds were not made.
Umahi praised the governors of Edo and Delta states for their ongoing support and interventions on portions of the road project, noting progress under their leadership.
Umahi said, “I have called the Governor of Delta State, and I commend him for the very beautiful work he’s doing. Three flyovers at the same time, beautiful flyovers. In this country, we need such beauties.
“We have also learned from that design. So we appealed to him to get any contractor within that zone to put 10 kilometres with reinforced concrete.
“He has accepted to do that. So I commend him very highly, which means that the Governor of Edo State is intervening in that section, and the Governor of Delta State is intervening in that section. We are grateful to them.”