Umahi Orders Contractor’s Arrest, Ota Residents Seek Review

By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk

ABUJA/OTA — Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited over the alleged failure to deliver an 11-kilometre section of the Benin-Onitsha Expressway despite receiving about ₦14 billion, in a move that has drawn renewed attention to other federal road projects facing delays and concerns, including the Ojuore axis in Ota, Ogun State.

Umahi issued the arrest directive during an inspection of road infrastructure along the Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha corridor, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the road and the contractor’s level of performance as 9News Nigeria reports.

According to reports from the inspection, Hartland was expected to complete the 11-kilometre stretch from Summit Junction in Asaba to Head Bridge, including channelisation and hydraulic structures. Umahi said only about 40 per cent of the agreed scope had been completed despite the substantial payment already made to the contractor.

The minister directed the relevant Controller of Works to locate the company’s Managing Director and effect his arrest, while also ordering officials of the ministry to review Hartland’s payment records and certificates across its projects.

He further directed the ministry to begin moves to recover funds paid to the contractor through the banks and warned that Hartland would face sanctions if the review established non-performance or other contractual breaches.

Umahi also ordered immediate intervention around the Head Bridge approaches, insisting that portions of the road that could be made passable through basic stone-base filling should not be allowed to deteriorate to the point of causing unnecessary hardship for motorists.

The minister subsequently broadened his warning to Controllers of Works across the country, stressing that the responsibility for maintaining federal roads cannot be abandoned simply because a contractor is awaiting payment.

He directed the Controllers to ensure that failed sections of roads under construction receive necessary temporary interventions to keep them motorable, even where contractual or payment issues remain unresolved.

The inspection also drew attention to the Second Niger Bridge, where Umahi raised concerns over the alleged vandalisation and removal of critical components, including bolts, steel members and expansion joints. He warned that continued damage to such components could pose a serious threat to the safety of the bridge.

He ordered immediate repairs, alongside the installation of solar-powered lighting and CCTV cameras to strengthen surveillance around the strategic infrastructure.

Following the minister’s action against Hartland, concerned residents and stakeholders in Ota, Ogun State, are calling for similar scrutiny of the ongoing Ojuore road and bridge project, particularly over concerns about construction progress, road safety and the quality of work.

The Ojuore area has previously recorded safety concerns linked to the construction. In January 2026, a section of a bridge railing under construction reportedly collapsed and injured a roadside trader, according to reports citing the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency.

Motorists and residents have also raised concerns about the pace and quality of construction around the Ojuore axis. A report by Nigerian Tribune quoted community members expressing dissatisfaction with aspects of the work, including concerns about the pace of construction and reported cracking on some sections.

A separate report by The PUNCH also reported ongoing construction of a flyover around the Ojuore axis, while motorists called for attention to other deteriorating portions of the surrounding highway.

However, claims circulating about the Ojuore project, including an alleged 75 per cent disbursement against approximately 40 per cent physical completion, could not be independently established from the available public records reviewed for this report.

The concerns have nevertheless prompted calls for closer monitoring of the Ojuore project and other federal infrastructure developments where residents and road users have raised questions about construction progress, safety and the use of public funds.

Umahi’s action against Hartland has brought renewed attention to the enforcement of contractual obligations on federal road projects, particularly where substantial government funds have already been released.

The development could increase scrutiny of other contractors handling federal road projects as the Works Ministry seeks to ensure that payments made for infrastructure are matched by measurable physical progress and compliance with contractual specifications.

The Ministry of Works has not publicly announced any arrest or investigation relating to the Ojuore project based on the concerns raised by residents and stakeholders.