Umahi Defends Concrete Road Technology Over Asphalt
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reiterated the stand of the ministry on the use of either asphalt or concrete in the construction of federal roads across the nation, stressing that there remains no controversy over the issue.
He said each technology has conditions attached to its deployment on Nigerian roads.
This was as he reinforced his stance on the six main policies of the ministry to guide road construction.
Umahi disclosed these policies when the national leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, led by its President, Tasiu Wudil, paid him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja.
According to Umahi, the clarification became important because several factors came up over the alternative of concrete technology only because “all things are not equal and can only be understood by professionals and not by people who have no knowledge about them.”
In separate statements signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister and the Assistant Director of information, Media, and Public Relations in the ministry, Orji Uchenna and Clement Ezeorah, respectively, on Friday, the former Ebonyi governor explained that the ministry’s position is not about comparing asphalt pavement and concrete pavement but that contractors using either of them must follow certain conditions according to the terrain.
The minister said, “We are not just comparing asphalt and concrete; no, that is not what we are doing. First of all, for the use of asphalt, these are the conditions; also, for the use of concrete, these are the conditions, but there are certain terrains in states that we stress must use concrete; we cannot change that. You cannot put asphalt in water, but you can put concrete in water.”
The minister explained that the rate at which the prices of these two products fluctuate is alarming and that the increment in asphalt is geometric, while that of concrete is in arithmetic progression.
He noted that the Federal Government is the one funding the projects and must tread with caution, taking into consideration the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Works.
Umahi expressed worry about the poor supervision of public works and promised to work with the Nigerian Society of Engineers to check quackery and improve the quality of engineering services, especially on federal road projects.
He said, “If we are committed to public things, God will give you new ideas; if you are not committed to public things, you will not get new ideas.
“We are going to partner with NSE in the supervision of all road projects and will also emphasise the need for retraining schools across states.
“Engineering is wide; if you are a professional engineer, you will not have a problem with professional ethics.
“The first job of NSE is to bring discipline; you have to bring us under your leadership, so if you hear that a member has committed fraud, you can disrobe him, and it is not everyone that will answer the name engineer.”
