The Nigerian Senate has reversed its decision to issue an arrest warrant against Dr. Peer Lubasch, Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, following a formal apology from the construction giant for repeatedly failing to appear before its committee on works.
The Senate had previously issued the warrant in December 2024, citing Julius Berger’s consistent non-compliance with invitations to discuss concerns over the abandonment of key projects and the alarming escalation of contract costs—particularly the Odukpani-to-Lot Ekpene Road project, which saw its budget soar from N54 billion to N195 billion. Despite three invitations, the company did not send representation to address the issues.
On January 10, 2025, Julius Berger submitted a letter of apology, acknowledging miscommunication during its leadership transition. The letter, signed by Dr. Lubasch and Dr. Abdulaziz Isa Kaita, promised better collaboration with the National Assembly and an assurance that the company would attend future hearings. This was followed by an appearance by Dr. Lubasch before the Senate’s works committee, where he detailed issues contributing to project delays, including forex volatility, delayed government payments, and challenges with land access.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the apology letter at plenary, and senators voted in favor of accepting it. The company’s written apology was also formally received by the committee, which urged Julius Berger not to allow such misunderstandings to escalate to the point of contract abandonment or the issuance of arrest warrants in the future.
Senator Barinada Mpigi, chairman of the committee, expressed hope that the apology signaled a positive shift, urging the company to meet the expectations of Nigerians. He warned other companies against neglecting project deadlines, emphasizing the Senate’s commitment to holding contractors accountable and ensuring that taxpayer money is properly utilized.
While acknowledging Julius Berger’s respected reputation, former Bayelsa State Governor Senator Seriake Dickson cautioned the company against taking its good standing for granted, urging more transparency in future dealings with the National Assembly. Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, in a follow-up remark, highlighted the long-standing frustrations with road projects under Julius Berger, underlining the Senate’s determination to ensure efficiency in infrastructure delivery.
The Senate’s stance underscores its resolve to promote accountability, transparency, and timely project execution in Nigeria’s public infrastructure sector.
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