By Angela Atabo
The Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), has said that resolutions were on-going with the Ministry of Works for the completion of road projects across Nigeria.
The President of the Federation, Vincent Barrah, made this while fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja.
Barrah explained that the new policy requiring contractors to sign a reviewed contract document was hindering progress on various sites.
He said that the federation has met with the Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi and they had a robust discussion with him on various issues affecting the members.
“We actually had an understanding with him and agreed that with our discussion we are going to move forward.
“These issues are contractual issues; they are issues affecting existing contracts generally and this is because the minister had raised some issues in the press on contract addendum , expiration of old contracts and signing of new ones.
“So our members had to discuss on way forward because most of the jobs are no longer on-going and the minister is worried and he wants work to resume.
“The modalities of how to resume based on the current realities are being discussed and we are optimistic that the issues will be resolved. ’he said.
According to Barrah, issues of contract are different from location to location and the problems differ because every contract is unique.
He said that was why the federation was insisting that each contract should be addressed with its uniqueness and issues affecting that project should be discussed and resolved for progress.
“We are a federation consisting of notable construction companies in Nigeria, so we are looking for way forward for pending issues to be resolved between our members and the ministry of works.’’(NAN)