Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi (middle), briefing journalists during his inspection visit to the Asaba-Onitsha section of the road on Thursday, 27 August, 2026 and flanked by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Delta State, Charles Aniagwu (right), and Director Highways, Bridges and Designs Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Saidu Musa (left). PHOTO: SAMUEL JIBUNOR
• Order arrest of contractor
•Also recovery of N14bn paid
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From our Bureau Chief, Asaba
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited, over the contractor’s failure to complete the 11-kilometre Asaba-Onitsha road project despite having been paid about N14 billion by the Federal Government.
The project covers the stretch from Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, to Head Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Umahi issued the directive on Thursday, 27 August, 2026 during an inspection of the First Niger Bridge and adjoining road projects.
Furious over the contractor’s slow pace of work, he accused Hartland of abandoning the project after completing only about 40 percent of the agreed scope.
He also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the road and the vandalisation of critical bridge components.
The minister was accompanied by the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, and senior officials of the Ministry of Works.
Reacting to the situation on ground, Umahi ordered ministry officials to track down and arrest Hartland’s managing director, insisting that the contractor must return to site and complete the project.
“On the Summit Junction to this Head Bridge, we gave it to the contractor called Hartland and we paid them, I think, up to N14 billion.
“We reached an agreement that they would finish the 11 kilometres from the Summit Junction to this bridge with the money and do the channelisation and hydraulic structures.
“But today, they have done just about 40 percent of the agreement,” Umahi said obviously angry.
“I am going to look for him to arrest him. Controller, you look for the MD of Hartland and arrest him.”
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Umahi also ordered the ministry to recover funds paid to the contractor through the banks and directed a comprehensive review of all certificates and payments linked to the company’s projects.
He further instructed officials to immediately repair failed sections of the road around Head Bridge, warning that the poor condition of the route was worsening traffic congestion and increasing hardship for motorists.
Expressed worry about heightened vandals’ activities
The minister said the destruction of critical infrastructure by vandals had reached an alarming level, stressing that the government could not continue to spend scarce resources repairing facilities only for criminals to destroy them.
He noted, that vandals had removed expansion joints, bolts and steel from the First Niger Bridge, including an overhead steel component vital to the structure.
According to him, the damage was more extensive than initially portrayed on social media, making urgent remedial work necessary.
Umahi therefore ordered officials to weld damaged components that could be salvaged and replace missing steel and bolts.
He also directed immediate milling and asphalt works on affected sections of the bridge.
To remedy the unpleasant vandalism situation, Umahi announced plans to install solar-powered streetlights and CCTV cameras along the bridge.
He disclosed, that the surveillance system would be linked to designated officials working with the police to detect suspicious activity and arrest offenders.
“We are going to have solar lights fixed all through. We are going to have CCTV here, and the CCTV is going to be downloaded to your phone.
“We are going to appoint people that it will be downloaded to, liaising with the police, so that if we see anybody, day and night, we can act,” he said.
Insists vandalism a national threat
Continuing, Umahi urged Nigerians to protect public infrastructure, insisting that vandalism was not a political matter but a national threat requiring collective action.
As he condemned the theft of iron components from concrete roads, parapets, bridges and other public facilities, describing the practice as reckless and unacceptable.
“This is not an APC problem. It is a national problem,” the minister said, while lamenting that the Ministry of Works could not deploy personnel to every road and bridge across the country to guard against vandalism.
Bridge’s health condition: His comments
The minister explained that the bridge’s movement or shaking did not automatically indicate structural failure, noting that bridges were designed with bearings to allow controlled movement.
However, the heavy dead load caused by asphalt would be addressed during the repair process, Umahi added.
Further, he said the government was considering restricting traffic on the bridge at night to allow repair work, with the route reopened during the day to minimise disruption.
He also ordered ministry controllers to arrest individuals involved in illegal dredging and contractors who abandoned dangerous road sections without protecting motorists and other road users.
Umahi directed contractors handling the Asaba bypass to provide proper drainage on both sides of the road to prevent erosion and protect adjoining houses from destruction.
Commends Delta Governor
The minister commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for paying compensation to property owners affected by the Second Niger Bridge access road.
He said the governor’s action showed commitment to the welfare of Deltans and would help accelerate the project while easing traffic pressure in Asaba.
Warning
He warned that contractors would be held accountable and assured Nigerians that the government would take firm action to ensure public projects deliver value.
The minister also inspected a failing section around the third abutment of the Second Niger Bridge, following concerns raised by a social media user who drew the attention of the Ministry of Works to the development.
Umahi commended the social media user for bringing the issue to the ministry’s attention, saying the prompt report had enabled officials to inspect the affected portion and take steps towards addressing the problem.
Assurance
Umahi however reassured of the Federal Government’s commitment to repairing the country’s critical road infrastructure, despite the scale of the challenges inherited nationwide.
