Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the immediate arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited over the company’s alleged failure to complete an 11-kilometre section of the Benin-Onitsha Expressway despite receiving about ₦14 billion for the project.
Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of road infrastructure along the Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha corridor in Delta State, where he expressed displeasure that the contractor had completed only about 40 per cent of the work.
The affected section runs from Summit Junction to the Head Bridge and includes channelisation and hydraulic structures. According to the minister, the agreement was for Hartland to complete the entire 11-kilometre stretch with the funds already paid.
“I’ve called the MD to discuss their return to the site. I am going to look for him and have him arrested. I’m going to arrest him,” Umahi said.
He subsequently directed the ministry’s Controller to locate and arrest the company’s managing director.
“Controller, look for the MD of Hartland and arrest him,” the minister ordered.
Umahi also directed officials to begin moves to recover the money paid to the contractor and ordered an audit of Hartland’s payment records and certificates across all its projects.
“Engineer Musa, tell the Directors of C&R to call up the APG immediately. You have to write to the banks to refund that money to us,” he said.
The minister warned that Hartland would be sanctioned if the audit found the company wanting.
“They must submit all their payment records and certificates. Execute this instruction and report back to me. This is very important. Audit every one of their certificates across all jobs—we are going to sanction Hartland,” Umahi said.
He also ordered that both sides of the Head Bridge approach be filled immediately, describing the contractor’s performance as unacceptable.
“Look at the kind of mess we are dealing with! Failing to do even simple filling on the road is pure wickedness,” he said.
During the inspection, Umahi also raised concerns over the vandalism of critical components of the Second Niger Bridge, including bolts, steel members and expansion joints. He ordered their immediate replacement and directed the installation of solar-powered lights and CCTV cameras to improve security around the bridge.
