Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has set conditions for constructing roads using asphalt in Nigeria.
At a meeting with Directors of the Ministry of Works in Abuja, Senator Umahi said deciding whether to use concrete or asphalt on roads should depend on the terrain of the area.
The Minister explained that he is not insisting that all ongoing roads must be built on concrete but that some conditions must be met to use asphalt.
“Nobody is insisting that all ongoing jobs will be on concrete, but anyone that wants to continue with asphalt can continue under the following conditions: no shoulder on surface dressing, alternative design on shoulder, all road of asphalt pavement must be on concrete shoulder,” Umahi explained.
He, however, stated that one of the benefits of building on concrete rather than asphalt is that concrete roads last for up to 50 years without maintenance.
“A lot of advantages accrue to the use of concrete to construct roads, concrete roads last longer compared to asphalt roads reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance, it’s stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance” Umahi said.
He appealed to the Directors to cooperate with him to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of building durable roads and bridges adding that he is always open to their questions and suggestions.
“I am appealing to our consciences to see ourselves as people going in the same direction and pursuing the same agenda for the betterment of all. All those in the field are the same as people in the office. Services in the office are what is keeping the services in the site”
Dominica Nwabufo
