Umahi orders Hartland MD’s arrest over N14 billion road project

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Civil Engineering Construction over the contractor’s failure to complete an 11-kilometre section of the Benin–Onitsha Expressway despite receiving up to N14 billion in payments.

Umahi gave the directive during a media briefing while on a road inspection tour of the project, expressing dissatisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the road, in a video seen by Nairametrics on Friday.

He said Hartland was expected to complete the section from Summit Junction to the bridge, including channelisation and hydraulic structures, but had delivered only about 40% of the agreed work.

Nairametrics checked the website of Hartland Civil Engineering Construction and found that the company’s management structure has no position as Managing Director. The company is led by Fouad Sarraf, who is designated as Technical Director.

What David Umahi is saying

Umahi said the Federal Government had paid Hartland up to N14 billion and reached an agreement with the contractor to use the funds to complete the 11-kilometre section.

However, he said the contractor had failed to deliver the agreed scope despite the payments made.

The minister said he had recalled Hartland’s Managing Director to discuss the contractor’s return to site before directing the ministry’s controller to locate and arrest him.

• “Hartland, we paid them up to N14 billion. When we paid them that money, we reached an agreement that they would use it to complete 11 kilometres from the Summit Junction to this bridge, including the channelisation and hydraulic structures. That was the agreement.
• “But today, they have completed only about 40% of the agreed work. So, I recalled the MD to discuss with him and ask them to return to site. I am going to look for him…