Umahi Urges Concessionaires to Deliver Quality Service on Federal Roads

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has called upon the recipients of concessions for tolling federal roads to ensure that they provide Nigerians with high-quality service commensurate with the trust placed in them by the government.

His remarks were made during the inauguration of the Contract Management Team (CMT) for Value-Added Concession (VAC) Road Corridors under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).

The Minister emphasized that members of the Ministry’s project and the Highways Development and Management Initiative team had dedicated three years to set the groundwork for this initiative. Now, these team members constitute the core of the newly created Contract Management Team.

Umahi expressed the expectation that the same level of dedication displayed during the Contract Preparatory Stages would be sustained throughout the Contract Implementation phase. He emphasized that Contract Management Teams are considered best practice in public-private partnerships (PPP) and that their careful selection is vital for successful contract execution.

He further explained that the Contract Management Team would be responsible for liaising with the Concessionaires concerning contract management. Additionally, he acknowledged the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) for its contribution, including organizing a two-day training and interactive session for the CMT members, aimed at enhancing effective and efficient management and monitoring of contract implementation.

The Minister highlighted that Value for Money (VfM) achieved through PPPs depends on both the quality of the private partner and the government’s contract management systems and teams. He urged government representatives in the team not to assume that the concession contract would self-regulate and self-report, emphasizing the importance of proactive guidance and close cooperation with the Concessionaires.

The HDMI aims to attract sustainable investment and funding for federal road infrastructure development and maximize the use of assets along the right of way (RoW). The initiative seeks to bring order, accountability, and profitability to the operations, management, and maintenance of federal highways.

The inauguration of the CMT marks a significant milestone in ensuring compliance with the provisions of the executed contracts. Umahi thanked all stakeholders for their collective efforts and expressed optimism that these endeavors would contribute to PPP practices in Nigeria, leaving a positive legacy for the sector.

Mohammed Bamali, the Director of Transportation of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), who represented the Director-General, emphasized that policies need proper implementation to achieve success. He called on all responsible for service delivery in the sector to ensure proper monitoring and stakeholder engagement for the benefit of Nigerians.