Minister for Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed that the rehabilitation and palliative work on failed federal roads are scheduled to commence on December 1, 2023. In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Umahi outlined plans for comprehensive road infrastructure development across the country, responding to concerns raised by commuters and residents about deteriorating federal roads.
Among the roads earmarked for attention are the Makurdi-Nsukka 9th Mile Road, East-West Road, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Benin bypass road, collapsed bridges of Enugu-Port Harcourt road, collapsed bridges of Shandam-Plateau State, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, and Gombe-Bauchi, among others.
Umahi acknowledged the significant debt burden inherited from ongoing road projects but assured that the N300 billion funding in the 2023 supplementary budget would address immediate palliative works on roads in all 36 states and the federal capital territory. He emphasized the commitment to tackling road infrastructure issues despite financial constraints.
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Works has been drawn to the concerns of the public on the deplorable situations of some sections of the Federal roads throughout the Federation,” Umahi stated. He highlighted the allocation of N100 billion for immediate palliative works and N200 billion for completing inherited projects in the supplementary budget.
Umahi urged the public to assist the ministry by monitoring contractors engaged in palliative works and reporting poorly constructed roads.
Regarding road construction materials, Umahi clarified that the federal government did not explicitly ban the use of asphalt. He outlined a new policy allowing contractors the choice to continue using asphalt or redesign projects with concrete, at no extra cost to the government.
“On the use of asphalt,” Umahi specified, “contractors shall stick to only a 5 per cent Variation on Price.” For concrete, contractors must adhere to a 5 per cent Variation on Price and a 50-year design shelf life using concrete grade 40.
Umahi concluded by addressing critics of the concrete technology policy, stating that they are those who do not wish Nigeria well and emphasizing the ministry’s commitment to the new policy. He noted that ongoing projects continue with asphalt pavement or redesigned with concrete pavement, depending on the terrain and contractor agreement.