The Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited is facing arrest after Works Minister David Umahi took action over the contractor’s unsatisfactory performance on an 11-kilometre section of the Benin-Onitsha Expressway.

According to Channels Television, Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of road projects along the Agbor-Asaba-Onitsha corridor in Delta State.

He said the contractor had completed only about 40 per cent of the section between Summit Junction and Head Bridge, despite allegedly receiving about N14 billion for the project, which includes channelisation and hydraulic structures.

Umahi said he had previously contacted the company’s managing director to discuss the contractor’s return to the site. Expressing his frustration over the situation, the minister said, “I’ve called the MD to discuss their return to the site. I am going to look for him and have him arrested. I’m going to arrest him.”

Following the statement, Channels Television reports that Umahi instructed the ministry’s controller to locate and arrest the Hartland MD. He also ordered officials to begin the process of recovering the alleged funds already paid to the contractor.

The minister further directed a review of Hartland’s payment records and certificates for its other projects.