Wike To Blacklist Construction Company Over Contract Variation

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has threatened to blacklist one of the construction companies handling road projects that is allegedly asking for contract variation.

The company is demanding for contract variation on the ongoing construction of Ring Road 1 segment of the Southern Parkway, connecting Area 11, Central Area, Area 3 and Durumi as well as Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway axis of the city.

Wike, who issued the threat during an inspection of some heavily funded road projects, reiterated that the issue of variation is not on the table, as it would not be accepted by the FCT Administration under his watch.

He stated that the FCTA had paid 97% for the project, but the company has failed to provide street lights, yet, the company’s Managing Director is demanding for variation on the contract.

He added that the FCTA and the Company along with other construction companies handling FCT projects had agreed on s payment pattern, being an agreement that FCTA has always kept .

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 ?

“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 clear that there cannot be any variation on that project.

“And if they don’t complete on time, I’m going to blacklist the company, that”s the truth of the matter. Nobody will toy with us; nobody will try to out smart us; and we are not going to accept it”.

“The Managing Director was there, and he knows we are serious about it. What they agreed in the first phase, but they are asking for the second phase, then how would we when you have failed us on the first phase? So, issue of variation is not on our table, as it would not be accepted.”

Mr Wike however lauded the quality of job that the company had carried out, and noted that the project when completed would change the landscape of that area.

On his part, the Managing Director of the Company, Ziad Mouannes, requested that the company be given the opportunity to have a meeting with officials of the FCTA to discuss and settle the matter.

By Remi Johnson, EditedBy Grace Namiji