FG Committed to Quality, Fast Deliveries Of Work-Sen Umahi

The Minister for Works, Sen David Umahi has said that the present administration is committed to outstanding quality, value for money, innovation, responsiveness, fast deliveries and technical expertise in road infrastructure development in Nigeria.

Sen Umahi made the disclosure yesterday when the National leadership of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) led by its President, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari Wudil paid him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja.

He emphasized the importance of quality delivery of construction works by the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu adding that the ‘business as usual’ syndrome in road construction is no longer tenable under the present administration.

Sen Umahi enumerated federal government new policies on road infrastructure to include, good stabilized and tested subgrade, sub-base course before pavement placement, expose subgrade, sub-base and base course to 60 days vehicular movement and continuous sheep-foot rolling before pavement placement.

Others include, introduction of reinforced concrete road pavement in most roads carriageway and shoulders, continuous maintenance of all roads under construction throughout the life of the project under contract, effective design of road infrastructure anchored on detailed report of environmental site conditions and geotechnical report and community relations in keeping roads motorable under the period of the contract.

He noted that supervision was necessary in the actualization of quality delivery of road construction whether concrete pavement or asphalt, noting that each of the two models has its own attendant conditions.

“When you start to compare asphalt and concrete, it is if all things are equal, here all things are not equal, there are many factors why we are talking about concrete”.

According to him, “Ministry of Works is not about comparing asphalt and concrete pavement but if you are using either of them, there are conditions attached to them. There are certain terrains on our roads that make it imperative for concrete pavement to be used. You cannot put asphalt in water but you can put concrete in water.

He expressed the concern over the rate of increase in the cost of materials for construction of the two models describing it as alarming adding that the cost of materials for asphalt is in geometric progression while the cost of materials for concrete pavement is in arithmetic progression.

Sen Umahi noted that prudence and value for money are the watchwords of the Ministry under him stressing that this involves getting materials at the minimum purchase price and maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the product.

He urged the leadership of Nigerian Society of Engineers to consider retraining of it’s members and ensure the enforcement of discipline and strict standards of ethics in the practice of Engineering in Nigeria in the interest of public safety and for the protection of the economic investments.

“I went to China and I saw their roads, there was no evidence of any maintenance in nearly 30 years . And I asked them what is the reason, and they said that if you build a road in China and within your lifetime, the road fails, they will come for test and if there is any evidence of compromise, the person responsible goes to prison for life”

He called for partnership between Ministry and the society in the area of supervision and consultancy.

earlier, the President of Nigerian Society of Engineers ( NSE) said the aim of the visit was to seek areas of collaboration and described the Sen Umahi as a round beg in a round hole.

“Since after your assumption of office, we have been monitoring your progress, and I must tell you we are not surprised, what you did as Governor in Ebonyi State is amazing. We visited you when you were the Governor of Ebonyi State and I am going to visit your Governor now. I must go because it is like a pilgrimage.

The President said that the Society which is an umbrella organization for Engineering profession in Nigeria is committed to best Engineering practices.

He enumerated the achievements of the Society and the prospects of their smart office project, and expressed the hope that it would be an innovation hub of the nation. Ends.