In the midst of ongoing disputes between the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and road contractors regarding the shift from asphalt to concrete roads, Umahi has stated that he has informed President Bola Tinubu about the situation.
Umahi spoke to State House correspondents and emphasized his commitment to fighting for the adoption of concrete technology for road construction, as he believes that concrete roads have a longer lifespan compared to asphalt roads.
He stated, “So I briefed Mr. President on what we are doing by introducing reinforced concrete technology for our road pavements. Incidentally, Mr. President is also an infrastructure guru. And he fully supports that we should use reinforced concrete for our road pavements.”
Umahi’s decision to shift from asphalt to concrete technology has been met with resistance from road contractors, who argue that the transition costs and the importation of heavy-duty road equipment for the new technology could be financially burdensome for the government. They have recommended setting a timeframe for the shift instead.
The contractors have protested the directive, claiming that it breaches their contracts and could result in substantial losses for the government.
Umahi, however, has made it clear that he is prepared to “fight” against entities that oppose his plan, asserting, “I know that there are a lot of fights from contractors, but I’m David, I’m known for a fight and I will fight this because I’ve reported myself to Mr. President.”
He maintains that using cement for roads is more reliable and cost-effective than bitumen and that it can provide a road surface that lasts for up to 50 years.
Umahi also disclosed that the Ministry of Works inherited 2,604 road projects spanning 18,000 kilometers with a total value of N14 trillion from the previous administration. Since taking office, the ministry has paid N4 trillion of the owed N14 trillion to various contractors.
However, Umahi highlighted the funding gap of N6 trillion that remains, indicating that the appropriation system for federal road projects needs revision. He believes that the current method of piecemeal disbursement of funds to contractors is ineffective and does not promote infrastructure development.
Umahi stated that he has urged President Tinubu to collaborate with the National Assembly to prioritize and improve the funding process for road projects.