Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of Hartland Nigeria Limited over the company’s failure to complete an 11-kilometre section of the Benin-Onitsha Expressway despite receiving about N14 billion from the Federal Government.

Umahi gave the order on Friday during an on-the-spot inspection of the expressway, expressing concern over the poor condition of the road and the contractor’s failure to deliver the project.

He said the Federal Government had reached an agreement with Hartland to use the funds to complete the 11-kilometre stretch from Summit Junction to a bridge, including channelisation and hydraulic structures.

The minister, however, said the contractor had completed only about 40 per cent of the agreed work despite receiving the funds.

Umahi also ordered the immediate arrest of anyone found carrying out unauthorised dredging activities along roads under the supervision of the Ministry of Works.

He directed security agencies to arrest contractors whose road sections remained impassable, stressing that the government would no longer tolerate failure to execute projects after receiving public funds.

The minister said the directive was part of efforts to ensure that contractors delivered projects according to agreed specifications and timelines.