By Ken Afor
The Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, has given contractors in charge of abandoned road projects a 14-day deadline to return to the sites or risk having their contracts revoked.
The government also threatened to report contractors who banded together to protest the use of concrete in road construction to law enforcement authorities, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, or ICPC.
Senator Dave Umahi, the minister of works, made this announcement following a private meeting he had yesterday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu, according to Umahi, has given him the go-ahead to use concrete as reinforcement. Umahi vowed not to give in to the contractors’ gang-up and extortion.
Following their meeting with the President, Umahi informed State House reporters that some contractors had taken notice of the policy, just as significant cement producers had agreed to offer discounts to government road builders of this nature.
In addition, he emphasized how much less expensive cement roads are than asphalt or bitumen and how important it is to promote local cement production rather than importing bitumen.
Umahi further cautioned contractors against adopting the shady practice of securing 20 projects while only sending two pieces of equipment to the site.
On the agenda of the meeting with the President, he said: ” I came to Villa to see Mr. President to discuss road infrastructure. I want to thank God because Mr. President approved all my requests. And these requests will renew the hopes of Nigerians on our road sector development, the approvals will rejuvenate proper road construction.
”But let me clarify a number of issues, especially for the benefit of Nigerians and our stakeholders. There has been a kind of campaign by some quick fix contractors and some elements you know, within who do not wish us well, who want us to continue with the old order.
“But we can’t continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result. The truth is that our roads are not good. The truth is that the past government earmarked a number of roads, which Mr. President inherited, close to about 18,897 kilometers of road to the tune of N14 trillion.”
Asked how the projects would be funded, he said: “By the mechanism of funding, by the ingenuity of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are sure of funding of about N5.1 trillion, leaving N6 trillion gaps. And this N6 trillion funding gap is as May 29, 2023.”
Tuesday’s deadline by the FG shows its commitment in ensuring that no awarded road project will be abandoned after inheriting huge amounts of abandoned projects from the previous administration.
The minister of works has declared that no roads will be built under his supervision using concrete rather than asphalt in an effort to ensure that road projects are carried out in accordance with best standard practices.
He emphasized that all roads built with concrete technology would provide Nigerians with a better return on their investment.
