The Federal Government has revoked the contract awarded to Levant Construction Limited for the reconstruction of the Benin–Sapele–Warri highway due to the company’s failure to deliver on the project.
According to The PUNCH, the minister of Works, David Umahi, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja following a meeting with contractors handling the project under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
Umahi accused Levant of abandoning its assigned portion of the highway despite repeated warnings and a final notice of termination. He also revealed that the Edo State Government had intervened to repair the most dilapidated sections of the road, while Levant failed to mobilise to site.
“Despite appeals and interventions, Levant refused to honour their commitment. The Edo State Governor fixed a 23km stretch for ₦35 billion, but Levant neglected their section. We had no choice but to issue a termination,” Umahi said.
According to a statement from the minister’s media aide, Orji Uchenna, Umahi directed the Permanent Secretary to formalise the termination process, measure completed work, and contact Levant’s bank for recovery of the Advance Payment Guarantee.
“Any company that fails to refund public funds may face EFCC prosecution,” the minister warned.
In contrast, Umahi praised Geld Construction and SKECC for showing readiness to return to their respective sites following contract renegotiations.
“The commitment of Geld is commendable. We approved a price review to accommodate inflation, especially the hike in asphalt cost from ₦9,000 to ₦30,000 per square metre,” Umahi said, referencing similar developments on the Lokoja–Abuja and Itoki–Ikorodu roads.
Umahi also acknowledged the efforts of Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and Monday Okpebholo of Edo for stepping in to finance key parts of the federal road network in their states.
“We are grateful for their proactive support. These governors are truly delivering,” he stated.
Responding to criticisms from some Northern groups alleging regional bias in road project allocations, Umahi described such claims as “malicious and uncharitable,” stressing that projects were distributed fairly and based on necessity.
“In this ministry, we don’t allocate based on regions. President Tinubu continues inherited projects and initiates new ones based on needs. For instance, Niger State alone receives 26% of NNPC Tax Credit projects, while the South-West and South-East combined get less than 9%,” Umahi explained.
He listed major ongoing projects in the North, such as:
Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road, Section I and III (₦252bn; 30% funded)
Section II of the same highway (164km, ₦525bn; ₦152bn already released)
Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina–Kaduna highway (750km, ₦825bn)
Bama and Dikwa roads in Borno under Dangote’s Tax Credit Scheme
₦958bn Kebbi dual carriageway, with the second lane pending FEC approval
A 439km Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe highway to be upgraded to a six-lane concrete road
He added, “Fifty-two percent of all Renewed Hope legacy projects are in the North, while the South gets 48 percent.”
Addressing concerns over the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi noted that the project does not disproportionately favour the South.
“The Kebbi section alone costs ₦958 billion for one lane. Once the second lane is approved, it could rise to nearly ₦2 trillion—comparable to the Lagos–Calabar project,” he stated.
On the slow pace of work on the Eleme–Onne axis of the East–West Road, Umahi said the contractor, RCC, has improved performance, clarifying that recent asphalt works were necessary to maintain traffic flow around flyover areas.
“We have completed one carriageway. Asphalt is being reapplied only near flyovers to ensure smooth traffic,” he clarified.
Umahi reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure to Nigerians, saying:
“President Tinubu is investing massively in roads across all regions. I’ve never seen a leader so focused on infrastructure. Nigerians will feel the difference.”
