Abuja — Work on the roundabout at Sango - Ota on the Ota - Abeokuta Federal Highway is to be completed in February 2010, a contractor handling the project, Julius Berger Nigeria Limited has assured. He gave the assurance at the site when the Minister of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Hassan Muhammad Lawal, paid an inspection visit.

The Divisional Manager of the Construction Company, Engr. Lubasch Detlet told the Minister that with the on set of the dry season work on the project will proceed at a greater speed. He thanked the Minister for settling all their outstanding certificates. He recalled that work had earlier stalled on the project before the deployment of the Minister to the Ministry because of funding problems, which the Minister promptly resolved.

He noted that since they re-commenced work in June, the only constraint they had faced was torrential and continual rainfall which hindered their pace of work.

In his remarks at the site, the Honourable Minister expressed satisfaction with the contractor and reassured that the Ministry will continue to settle promptly all financial obligations to contractors, in keeping with President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's Policy and belief that payment must be promptly made for any job done. He reiterated that no contractor's bills will spend more than one or two days on his desk or that of any director. He urged the contractor to keep faith with his pledge to deliver the completed project in February 2010. He reaffirmed the commitment of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to the recovery and provision of serviceable roads to all parts of the country, and appealed for public understanding and patience.

The Minister thanked the Ogun State Government for their intervention at the point when the contractor abandoned site, to ensure that the place was motorable. He said the gesture was commendable and worthy of emulation by State Governments where Federal projects faced similar challenges.