Nigerian Works Minister, Senator David Umahi has reaffirmed his commitment to positive change on road infrastructure development, to answer the yearning of the masses on provision of motorable roads in the country.
Umahi disclosed this during his meeting with Forty Six contractors handling road projects in the South East Region and Four contractors from the North East over weekend at the Ministry’s headquarter’s office in Mabushi, Abuja.
The Minister maintained that under his watch, road construction starting from design and actual construction must meet up with the requirement processes for it to be done right.
“We will get it right, the time to do good job is here, if you were doing bad job before, this period is not for you. Every 24 hours I work must be characterized with good and acceptable construction that will last”, he said.
Umahi advocated for the use of Concrete Technology in road pavement saying that it is durable, affordable and can last for a longer time without much maintenance.
He asked the contractors to decide on the use of Asphalt or concrete but if any of them decides to continue the use of Asphalt, then they will sign an undertaken that if the road fails he the contractor will bear the burden.
“I will challenge you contractors that the use of Concrete Technology on our road pavement is the best. The nation is endowed with natural resources so we should be prepared for the renewed hope of the present government that is anchored on change.
“My instruction is for us to start using concrete Technology but if you insist on using asphalt, you will sign an undertaking for me that if the road fails you will bear the burden alone”, he said.
Umahi encouraged the contractors to embrace the new technology with ease which he said will help cushion the effect of dilapidated road in the south east region of the nation because of the terrain of the region.
Why I made a working visit to Southwest, other regions of Nigeria
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has earlier explained the reasons of his working visit to the South West and other regions of the country.
He said, “I have been in Lagos, South West since Monday to evaluate the ongoing projects especially bridges that are so important to Lagos economy, the issue of concrete technology on our roads and review of road contracts, that is why we are going around to see how we can redesign our roads with concrete pavement”.
He made this remarks while meeting with the Deputy Governor of Ondo State Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa who received him on behalf of the state, also explained how Ondo State can partner with Federal Government through the Highway Development Initiative (HDMI ) in building Federal Government roads in Ondo State.
The Minister said ‘Most Federal roads are connecting one state to the other and when such is cut off the economic viability of such states are in trouble, that is why I presenting to the Economic Council to allow us to access funds to conclude some of these roads and if we don’t conclude them, it will impact negatively on these states economy.”
The Deputy Governor who spoke on behalf of the Governor, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu during meeting in his office said “Your appointment has not come to us as a surprise, congratulations on your nomination, clearance and inauguration by Mr President it is a well deserved appointment.
“Because as a former Governor your antecedent made you the first among the rest and your experience in the terrain of infrastructural development and governance is in no small measure”
The Deputy Governor said “the zeal at which you have commenced official engagement with your visit to the South West zone has given us excitement that better days are here for real”.
He said the “APC administration in this state has taken a giant stride in infrastructural development by building quality roads in all the Sectorial district of the state”.
The Minister after his tour of the dualisation of lbadan road (Mayfair Junction )- Lagere-Iremo–Enuwa- Ilesha Bye-Pass in Osun State paid a courtesy visit on the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, (Ọjájá II) CFR with Senator Iyiola Ajani Omisore at the Ooni palace where the Minister explained to them the advantages of building roads with concrete in Osun State.
