₦14 Billion Paid, 40% Done: Umahi Orders Arrest Of Asaba-Onitsha Road Contractor
By TIMOTHY HAGGERTY-NWOKOLO
THE Federal Government has escalated its response to the troubled Summit Junction–Head Bridge section of the Benin-Onitsha Expressway, with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, ordering the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited.
Umahi issued the directive during an inspection of federal road infrastructure along the Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha corridor on 27 August 2026. He accused the contractor of failing to deliver an 11-kilometre road project despite receiving about ₦14 billion.
The minister said Hartland had completed only about 40 per cent of the agreed scope.
A Contract Under Scrutiny
The disputed section runs from Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, to the Head Bridge area in Onitsha, Anambra State.
According to Umahi, the agreement required Hartland to complete the entire 11-kilometre stretch, alongside channelisation and hydraulic structures.
The minister said the government had already released about ₦14 billion for the work. However, the condition of the road during his inspection prompted him to question the contractor’s performance.
Umahi said he had previously contacted the company’s managing director to discuss the contractor’s return to site. He expressed frustration that the intervention had not produced the expected result.
He subsequently directed ministry officials to locate the Hartland MD and have him arrested.
The arrest directive, however, represents an allegation and administrative enforcement action; it does not by itself establish criminal liability against the contractor or its managing director.
Government Moves to Recover Funds
Beyond the arrest order, Umahi directed officials to begin moves to recover money paid to the contractor.
He also ordered a review of Hartland’s payment records and certificates relating to its various projects with the Federal Ministry of Works.
The ministry’s review could therefore extend beyond the disputed Asaba-Onitsha section.
Umahi’s intervention effectively shifts the matter from a road-construction dispute to a wider examination of contract performance, certification and public expenditure.
Reports also indicate that the ministry was instructed to activate the contractor’s Advance Payment Guarantee and pursue recovery through the relevant financial institutions.
Traffic Pressure Raises the Stakes
The controversy comes as the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha corridor continues to experience severe traffic pressure.
The Head Bridge area is particularly important because it connects major commercial and population centres across Delta and Anambra. Deteriorated road sections can therefore produce consequences far beyond the immediate project area.
Umahi ordered officials to undertake immediate repairs around the Head Bridge approach to ease congestion and reduce hardship for motorists.
The minister described the condition of some sections as unacceptable and directed ministry personnel to intervene rather than wait for the larger contractual dispute to be resolved.
First Niger Bridge Also Comes Under Spotlight
The inspection also exposed another infrastructure challenge: vandalism of components of the Niger Bridge infrastructure.
Umahi raised concerns over the removal of expansion joints, bolts and steel components.
He ordered their replacement and directed immediate repairs.
The minister also announced plans to strengthen surveillance by installing solar-powered lighting and CCTV cameras around the bridge. The proposed surveillance system would involve designated officials working with the police to monitor activity around the facility.
The measures reflect a broader concern that infrastructure investment can be undermined not only by delayed construction but also by vandalism after completion.
Accountability Versus Delivery
The Hartland controversy highlights a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector: the gap between financial commitment and physical delivery.
For motorists, the central issue is not simply how much government has paid. It is whether the road is completed to specification, whether public funds produce measurable infrastructure and whether contractors face consequences when contractual obligations go unmet.
For government, the challenge is equally complex. Enforcement must be strong enough to deter poor performance while remaining grounded in contractual procedures, evidence and due process.
The immediate priority remains the road itself.
Until the Summit Junction-Head Bridge section becomes functional, commuters and businesses along the corridor will continue to bear the consequences of the delay.
Hartland had not, at the time of the reports reviewed, publicly responded to the minister’s allegations or explained why the project remained incomplete.
