This was as the association’s delegation visited the Minister of Works, David Umahi, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
The commendation was contained in a statement on Friday by the minister’s Special Adviser (Media), Orji Uchenna.
The contractors were quoted to have praised President Bola Tinubu’s “uncommon commitment to best standards and speed in project delivery now witnessed in the ministry.”
“The Renewed Hope administration of the President of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has been commended by the Association of Ministry of Works’ Contractors, Mabushi-Abuja for the seamless arrangement in the payment of money to contractors handling road projects in the Federal Ministry of Works,” the statement partly read.
Addressing the contractors, Umahi was said to have expressed the ministry’s commitment to “giving the indigenous contractors a level playing ground and equal opportunities in the award of contracts in the ministry.”
He, however, stressed the need for all contractors to “strictly adhere to procurement and job specifications, greater speed and best standards as the road infrastructure is the life-wire of the economy of every nation.”
The minister also appreciated members of the association for their support, encouragement and cooperation with the ministry’s new policies, adding that contractors should “prepare to cut down costs in line with the economic realities of the country, having in mind the need for all to contribute towards alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians.”
Umahi also noted that he wasn’t moved by “sponsored blackmail and falsehood” published against him, saying all he has done was to ask contractors to cut down on costs “in line with the economic realities of the country, where everybody must make sacrifices.”
He noted the significance of having a good road infrastructure, saying, “If we have good roads, kidnapping will reduce, insecurity will reduce, commerce will increase, transportation costs will become cheaper.”
The association’s spokesperson, Abdul-Kareen Smith, said they visited the minister as a delegation of contractors drawn from the six geo-political zones of the federation to convey their solidarity to the minister.
Smith added that the AMWC was committed to supporting all infrastructural programmes of the ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
