Work may not be completed in 6 weeks—Julius Berger
The minister of state for aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has said that a total of N6.934billion would be spent on the rehabilitation of the runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Sirika who disclosed this when he appeared before the senate plenary on Tuesday stated that the cost of preparations for the runway repair alone amounted to N1.134 billion while the actual rehabilitation would cost N5.8 billion.
A breakdown of the preparation cost of N1.134 billion shows that the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) would get N1.3 million; Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), N247 million; the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), N358.517 million; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), N325 million; Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), N29 million, and ministry of transportation, N84 million.
But the contractor, Messrs Julius Berger Ltd, said it might not be able to finish the work within the six weeks stipulated in the contract if some stakeholders in the project failed to fulfill their obligation.
Its managing director of the company, Wolfgang Goetsch, said: “We guarantee that within these six weeks, the repair work is done subject to the fulfillment of the obligations of all stakeholders.
“I will just give one very simple example. We have two choppers, two big cargo airplanes fly in materials from overseas and the offloading and the customs clearance of these cargo airplanes of course are essential because time is of essence. Under the leadership of the minister of state for aviation, all stakeholders are on board. As I speak today, everything is going very smoothly according to plan and we have no doubt that the obligations of other stakeholders are fulfilled.”
In his submission, works, power and housing minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola announced that work had already begun on the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway which he said was awarded at the cost of N1.085 billion.
On its part, NPF said it had procured 500 Hilux vans and three helicopters to be used for security surveillance between Abuja and the Kaduna airports.
The deputy inspector-general of police, Mr. Joshak Abila, who disclosed this during the debate at the Senate explained that the helicopters would be stationed in Minna, Niger State.
