The slow pace of work by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on the rehabilitation of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway is really worrisome. On its website, the company described itself as a leading construction company offering integrated solutions and related services. The company is also said to specialise in executing complex works that require the highest level of technical expertise and Nigeria-specific know how. Since its pioneer project on the Eko Bridge in Lagos, the company has played a pivotal role in the development of Nigeria’s industrial and civil infrastructure. Its value systems, the company said, is built on the belief that the company’s duty, apart from delivering the highest quality standards in work, is to support and advance the development of its staff, host communities and the country of Nigeria itself.
It was reported that a couple was trapped in the traffic at the Lagos end of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway when they were held up for hours in a heavy traffic with no way to get to the venue of their wedding in another state.The food and drinks for the wedding party were shared to the people in traffic. Too bad!
Truly over the years, Julius Berger has proven itself as a formidable force to reckon with in the construction sector of the Nigerian economy. The company has constructed and rehabilitated quite a number of roads for the Federal Government and these include, but are not limited to, the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge, Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano roads, etc. It is noteworthy that Julius Berger has given a good account of itself over time in the construction business in Nigeria and, no doubt, the standards and the brand name has been working for the company as it continues to land more and more jobs in the country.
However, the general perception now is that, the ease at which contracts flood in with little or no efforts, appears to have resulted in complacency on the part of the company. There is a decline in the performance level based on the on-going contracts being done by the construction outfit. The quality and job delivery performance indicator appears to be nose-diving . The public perception is that the deterioration could be attributed to a combination of factors. Topping the list is the Nigerian factor which embodies systemic failure and corruption in high places, making the required check and balances almost impossible. Also, the descent of the one-time highly rated construction company into complacency with the self-delusion that jobs would always come in whether it performs or not, regardless of the average Nigerians’ opinion. It is evident that holding on to the self-satisfaction that “we can always have our way with the system” has proven calamitous to so many companies in recent times in the corporate world. Things are moving fast and playing the ‘’big boys’’ is a dangerous game in the new business world in order not to learn the hard way.
The rehabilitation of the Abuja Airport and Lagos – Ibadan roads was awarded to Julius Berger by the immediate past administration at the federal level but there is no end in sight for the delivery of these all-important projects. Parts of the roads are being barricaded without any notice or any construction going on at the portion of the road thus resulting in frequent accidents, traffic jams, loss of man hour, resources and important appointments. The sick are not also left out as many patients on reference to hospitals along these routes are certified dead on arrival after been stuck in the traffic. The journey of an hour could take more than eight hours at times. It was reported that a couple was trapped in the traffic at the Lagos end of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway when they were held up for hours in a heavy traffic with no way to get to the venue of their wedding in another state.The food and drinks for the wedding party were shared to the people in traffic. Too bad!
When, in 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan flagged off the rehabilitation of the dilapidated Lagos- Ibadan expressway, the commuters on the axis heaved a sign of relief that the harrowing experience and unnecessary deaths on the bad road would soon become a thing of the past. Julius Berger was to undertake the rehabilitation of the road from the old Lagos toll gate to the Sagamu interchange and Reynold Construction Company from Ibadan to that point while delivery was expected to be done in four year. However, here we are in 2018. Both the executive and legislative arms of government are partly to blame for the slow pace of job being done by the contractors on this road. They have been on ego-circus with each other at the expense of the lives of their fellow Nigerians being wasted on the road which leads to the most important and busiest sea port in the country.
In my interaction with the stakeholders, the major concern centres on the performance of Julius Berger on the rehabilitation works on Lagos – Ibadan expressway from the Sagamu interchange t to the old toll gate in Lagos. The public perception is that the company has been too slow and shows a perceived lackadaisical attitude to the job and this is not too good for its image. The slow pace of works is daily causing commuters excruciating agony with neither the government nor Julius Berger construction workers giving a damn. Most times, road users in heavy traffic jams watch the workers, including the expatriate sit in a very flippant manner watching from a distance the suffering of our people.
The Federal Minister of Works should therefore let Nigerians know the position of the government viz a viz Julius Berger on what is being done to alleviate the suffering of our people. Julius Berger should stop taking the people for granted. The company should speed up the job and wake up from its slumber as the public perception of the company, currently, is abysmally low because of the slow pace of work on this important highway.
Olumide Ojo is a life coach and public affairs analyst . He can be reached via: Olumideojo028@gmail.com
