By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Uyo
The Federal Government has terminated the contract of Raycon and Company Nigeria Limited for the construction of the 9.7-kilometre Calabar-Itu road. The decision was announced by the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, during a weekend inspection of the Calabar-Itu Highway and the Akwa Ibom axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Umahi said that despite inspecting the road four times, there was no visible improvement on the section handled by Raycon, adding that the company lacks the capacity and resources to complete the project. He described the road as “the worst in the country,” warning that its deteriorating condition could derail the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway if not promptly addressed.
Consequently, the Minister directed that the Director of Works in the Ministry hand over the project to Hitech Construction Company for remedial work and permanent takeover. Umahi admitted that the Ministry failed to conduct proper due diligence before awarding the contract to Raycon but assured that a replacement project would be given to the company.
“This job was awarded to Raycon as an intervention contract after taking it over from Julius Berger due to their competitive pricing,” Umahi explained. “However, this project is beyond Raycon’s capacity. We will look for another suitable project to compensate them.”
Umahi ordered a stop-work notice on Raycon, instructing the Ministry to carry out a joint measurement of completed work before processing any payments. He also directed Hitech to commence emergency remedial work immediately, even if it involves widening the carriageway to 10.3 meters, with the goal of completing the 9.7-kilometre stretch within two months.
The Minister expressed concern over the road’s impact on commuters and commercial traffic, citing recent incidents of vehicles falling due to poor road conditions. “We cannot allow this to continue. Hitech must work day and night to restore seamless passage for commuters,” he said.
Umahi further emphasized that new road contract agreements require contractors to mobilize to site immediately upon award, with the capacity to deploy their own resources. While acknowledging that Raycon was not paid mobilization due to funding stoppages by the Ministry of National Planning and Coordination Resources (MNPR), he stated that the company is not at fault.
Federal Controller of Works in Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Okoduwa Vincent, explained that Raycon was able to carry out maintenance on some critical areas, including a ravine prone to vehicle accidents, but heavy traffic limited their work on the full width of the road.
Raycon’s Managing Director, Engr. Zakis Gabriel, defended his company’s efforts, noting that they worked through the rainy season to address gully erosion and other problematic areas along the route. “We focused on keeping the road passable despite the high traffic volume and challenging conditions,” he said.
With the takeover by Hitech, the Ministry hopes to quickly restore the road to standard, ensuring safer and smoother passage along the Calabar-Itu axis, which is vital for coastal highway connectivity.