Umahi Tasks ICRC on Faster Procurement Process for Road Construction Projects
*Constitutes committee for supervision of Benin-Warri highway, others
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has requested a more seamless procurement process from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), describing the current procedure as cumbersome, time-consuming and capable of delaying planned projects.
Speaking during a meeting with officials of the ICRC in Abuja, the minister reiterated the ministry’s commitment to continued improvement on road infrastructure across the nation, but said that the process must be fast-tracked.
The ICRC plays a critical part in the financing and building of roads under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements. The minister said he was committed to continuing to improve on the nation’s road infrastructure and will like to work with ICRC to achieve the mission.
He noted that PPP arrangement was a welcome development in road infrastructure provision but said the processes to achieving this desired goal can be worked on to make the procurement processes faster.
“We need to work together to ensure that government’s interests are represented and effected correctly in every PPP transaction. That is why the Ministry of Works and ICRC must work together,” a statement from the ministry quoted him as saying.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mahmuda Mamman, noted that the ministry requires fast delivery on the programmes to enable it meet its mandate.
Responding to the minister’s request, the Director General of ICRC, Michael Ohiani, pledged that the organisation will do all it can to make sure that the processes are fast-tracked to achieve the desired aim.
Meanwhile, the minister has constituted a committee for each of the three sections of the reconstruction of Benin-Warri dual carriage way and the ‘dualisation’ of the East-West Road, section II: Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction) to One Port Junction in Rivers state for effective monitoring and supervision of the projects.
