The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State chapter, has raised objections to the directive issued by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, regarding the use of concrete technology for federal roads. The party also criticized Umahi’s track record with the direct labor approach to road construction during his tenure as the governor of Ebonyi State.
Umahi had recently stated in a press briefing that the Federal Government would prefer concrete roads over asphalt and that contractors opting for asphalt must guarantee the road’s durability. He emphasized that concrete roads could last for up to 50 years, and the goal was to ensure value for taxpayers and minimize the suffering of Nigerians.
However, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Ebonyi State, Chika Nwoba, issued a statement on Friday disputing the minister’s claim that the concrete roads he constructed in Ebonyi State would last for 50 years. The statement argued that Umahi’s direct labor projects faced issues like dilapidation shortly before and after his tenure. One notable instance was the collapse of some buildings within the Abakaliki International Market, a project personally supervised by Umahi.
The statement pointed out that Umahi’s direct labor and concrete pavement technology had not consistently demonstrated the promised longevity and quality. It suggested that only the National Assembly or President Bola Tinubu could dissuade Umahi from employing these methods in his ministry’s construction projects.
This statement reflects the PDP’s skepticism regarding Umahi’s approach to road construction and his claims about the durability of concrete roads.