Nigerian Senate resolves 'arrest warrant issue' with Julius Berger

Nigerian Senate

Nigerian Senate

The Nigerian Senate and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc have reconciled their differences, paving the way for renewed collaboration toward advancing the nation’s infrastructural development.

This resolution came after Nigeria’s foremost construction company tendered a formal apology for its failure to honour previous invitations from the lawmakers, which the Senate Committee on Works has now accepted.

Speaking during a meeting with Julius Berger’s Managing Director, Dr Peer Lubasch, at the Senate Committee on Works yesterday, the committee’s chairman, Senator Barinada Mpigi, declared the matter resolved.

“There is no going back on the arrest warrant matter. The matter has been settled. All we need is peace and cooperation for progress. Most of the issues between the firm and parliament have been resolved,” Senator Mpigi stated.

He continued, “We have sealed our relationship with Julius Berger, and I think we are on the same page. The inability of the firm to attend our previous invitations has been explained in the apology tendered by its management.

“Engr. Dr Lubasch, we are aware of your leadership transition, and while we appreciate the complexities such transitions entail, the expectations of Nigerians remain high, and rightly so. Your absence at our earlier meeting, though regrettable, is now behind us, as you have tendered a formal apology.

“I must commend you for your humility and professionalism in addressing this through your letter, which was routed through me to the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator (Dr) Godswill Akpabio, GCON. The letter has been well received, and it represents a positive first step toward rebuilding the trust and cooperation that are critical to achieving our shared objectives.

“Let me also commend Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for its longstanding reputation for delivering quality infrastructure projects across the nation. However, with great reputation comes great responsibility.”

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Dr Peer Lubasch, speaking before submitting the apology letter to the lawmakers, reaffirmed Julius Berger’s commitment to transformative infrastructure projects aligned with Nigeria’s developmental priorities.

“For over 50 years, Julius Berger has partnered with the Federal Government, State Governments, communities, and other stakeholders to deliver world-class solutions with professionalism, transparency, and the highest standards of excellence and sustainability,” Lubasch stated.

The Julius Berger boss highlighted challenges faced in the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road project, citing unresolved right-of-way issues, inflation stemming from eight-year-old unit cost negotiations, foreign exchange volatility, and financial strain due to delayed contracting, approvals, and payments.

Despite these obstacles, Lubasch noted that Julius Berger has demonstrated its commitment by pre-financing works and ensuring progress on critical infrastructure.

He appealed to the Senate to address the broader challenges impacting infrastructure delivery in Nigeria, urging adherence to due process and contractual agreements.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Barinada Mpigi, Ph.D., for his leadership, and to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for his esteemed presence and thoughtful contributions to today’s session. Their commitment to addressing the challenges facing Nigeria’s infrastructure sector reflects the Senate’s dedication to the nation’s progress,” Lubasch said.

He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership, citing reforms in the forex market, enhanced security measures, increased minimum wage, and infrastructural development initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Julius Berger remains confident that through collaborative efforts, we can overcome these challenges and deliver infrastructure projects that drive economic growth and improve the lives of all Nigerians. We are proud to continue playing our role as a trusted partner in Nigeria’s development,” he said.

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