Fraudulent certificates saga: FG redeploys Engr. Adetunji to Mararraba – Keffi road project
2 min read
By Chris Ochayi
The Federal Government has redeployed the Director, Highways, Special Projects, Engr. Olufemi Adetunji to take supervision of the Mararraba – Keffi road project.
Adetunji’s redeployment came after the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi announced the removal of the Federal Controller of Works, FCT, Engr. Yakubu Usman, following his involvement in issuance of fraudulent certificates to the contractor handling the project.
Umahi took the action on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing expansion of the 43-kilometre Mararaba–Keffi corridor.
He also issued the firm handling the project a February 28, 2026 completion deadline to handover the road.
Umahi accused the removed Controller of Works of issuing fraudulent certificates that led to payments for incomplete or unexecuted jobs, including earlier palliative works.
The Minister therefore directed the Permanent Secretary of the ministry to redeploy the officer immediately and assign a new Controller to take over supervision of the project.
The minister said that supervising officials have the authority to deny certificates and escalate any contractor’s non-compliance.
He added that the sanctions imposed would stand unless reversed by the President.
He directed China Harbour Engineering Company, the project contractor, to submit a detailed work timetable and a written commitment confirming its readiness to meet the February deadline.
Umahi expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work and attributed the delays to both the contractor and supervisory lapses within the Ministry of Works.
The Minister ordered the immediate removal of hand-moulded caps along the road, instructed that concreting of the median should commence without delay, and directed the installation of solar-powered streetlights along the entire stretch.
According to him, “I am giving you the end of February to hand over this job. You must come to my office on Wednesday with your timetable and a commitment to complete the project by then.”
He noted that repeated inspection visits had yielded little improvement.
He warned that indiscipline, negligence and failure to enforce directives would no longer be tolerated in the ministry.
Umahi also assessed progress at key points along the corridor, including the Keffi flyover, where he reiterated that both contractors and ministry officials must discharge their duties diligently in the interest of Nigerians.
