Abandoned Project: Senate , Berger settle scores over Odukpani -Ikot Ekpene road
…vacate warrant of arrest order
By Tunde Opalana
The Senate and construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on Tuesday resolved issues surrounding uncompleted federal government road project with the legislature ordering completion of the project.
This as the the Senate vacated a warrant of arrest issued last late last year against the Managing Director of the company, Engr Peer Lubasch for refusing to appear before its Committee on Works for explanation on abandoned projects .
The vacation of the warrant was consequent upon granting of an apology letter written by Julius Berger addressed to the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio through the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works , Senator Barinada Mpigi, for not honouring invitations sent to it due to leadership transition .
The letter dated January 10th , 2025 and signed by Engr Dr Peer Lubasch as Managing Director and Dr Abdulaziz Isa Kaita as Director Administration, reads in part : “
Your Excellency, the President of the Senate, on behalf of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (JBN), we extend our respect and commend the Senate President’s leadership and the Chairman’s contributions to advancing the welfare of Nigerians.
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“We acknowledge receipt of your instructions regarding the investigative hearing on the Odukpani-ltu-lkot Ekpene Road and sincerely apologize for missing the previous meeting due to miscommunication during our leadership transition.
“Our new Managing Director, Engr. Dr. Peer Lubasch, had just assumed office and was being briefed on ongoing projects. We assure you of our utmost respect for the National Assembly and our commitment to collaborative
governance.
“JBN remains committed to partnering with the National Assembly and Federal Government to deliver
projects that benefit Nigerians, address infrastructural challenges, and create jobs.
” We assure you of our attendance at the next committee meeting and look forward to continued collaboration “
In accepting the apology , Senators at the plenary voted for its acceptance when put to voice votes by the Senate President.
JBN’s apology was also accepted by the Investigative panel its MD was directed to appear before in December.
The panel headed by Senator Barinada Mpigi, also collected the written apology from Julius Berger but admonished the construction giant not to allow issues between it and relevant authorities to degenerate to the level of projects abandonment and arrest warrant issuance .
The MD of Julius Berger in his explanations to the committee , informed it that slow payment of advances on awarded contracts and cost variation etc , created misunderstanding between the company and Federal Ministry of Works .
” JBN has an unquestionable track record of consistency on quality projects execution and delivery in Nigeria since 1965 with over 10,000 workforce now and more than 150, 000 indirect workers “, he said .
The committee accordingly promised the construction giant to resolve the disagreement between it and the Federal Ministry of Works.
The Daily Times recalled that the Senate had on the 12th of December, 2024 issued a warrant of arrest against the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc ,for persistently refusing to appear before its committee on Works .
Resolution of the Senate on Warrant of Arrest against MD of Julius Berger, followed motion moved to that effect by the Senate Minority Whip , Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP Enugu West) .
Senator Ngwu in the motion co – sponsored by Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong ( APC Cross River South) and Mpigi Barinada (PDP Rivers South East), informed the Senate that Julius Berger Plc Julius Berger has persistently refused to appear before the Senate Committee on Works for required explanations on projects abandonment and alarming contract variation from N54billion to N195billion .
