Build roads with 10 years guarantee, Works Minister orders contractors

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi has ordered all road contractors to build roads that will last for up to 10 years.

Mr. Umahi gave the order when he met with all contractors handling road dualization projects and all zonal Directors of the Ministry, at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

He urged all contractors that have built roads that cannot last up to ten years to write to the Ministry to either stop work or rebuild the road to meet the 10 years standard.

The Minister of Works told to the contractors to build roads with concrete technology which is more durable, adding that he would not acknowledge stories from contractors of failures on the roads due to overloading.

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Mr. Umahi also announced the ministry’s intention to focus on most of the dualized roads in Nigeria.

“Why we are here now is to announce our intention to face most of the dualized roads in the country. 

“I want to remind you that Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is funding 50% percent of the contract sum and that funding goes up to 2025. 

“We have N431bn of money that is ready for contractors to clear but there is no certificate for it. If you are doing a job under Phase 1, make effort to make claims, if your job involves augmentation, go back to your Regional Director for understanding before I sign the certificate, any certificate I sign now, I have to take account for it even when I have left office,” Umahi said.

The Minister tasked the contractors to stick to one lane if their job has not gone up to 50% completion.

He further told the contractors not to expect an endorsement from the ministry on poorly constructed jobs that do not meet the standards of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Mr. Umahi appealed to the contractors to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to develop road infrastructure in Nigeria.