I Will Surpervise Roads Construction That Will Last 50 Years – Umahi

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has promised to supervise the construction of roads in the country that will last at least 50 years.

Speaking on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Umahi said all the roads that will be constructed during his time will be done with the new concrete technology.

The former Governor of Ebonyi State added that the new method of constructing roads in the country will based on the climate in order to increase their life span.

He, however, lamented that the cost of concrete is higher than asphalt, stressing that the quality of bitumen available and being imported in Nigeria is not comparable to what was in place in 1950 and 1960.

He said: “I noticed that some of the projects, while you are still on the roads, have gone bad.

“The lifespan of a road is between five to seven years. That should not be. And that’s why everywhere, we are putting money on projects and not getting value for it.

“I have directed that all the ‘no objections’ my ministry submitted to the BPP be returned. We need to look at the new method of constructing our roads based on our climate.

“The moment we deploy concrete technology… I am speaking with the state governors on this. It is a revolution that is going to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

“I promise Nigerians, with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, that any road we do with our new technology, for fifty years, nobody is going to maintain it. Money will be saved, and money will be wisely spent in our tenure.”

Umahi added that President Bola Tinubu is ready to provide funds for the construction of quality roads in the country and is also looking at reducing the cost of construction.

He said: “We are looking at all these things. How do we cut down costs? Because the primary issue is also the cost of construction.

“We are looking at the figures, but it looks like a lot of contractors are not willing, but I will make them to make the change – we are all engineers.

“I am telling them your profit, I will protect whatever thing you want to make but, let’s help Nigeria, let’s build a road that will last, and the funny thing is that the government – the President will give out the money.”