The country’s road construction projects are being carried out by both domestic and foreign contractors, but Minister of Works Dave Umahi has warned them against performing subpar work.
In Abuja, at a meeting with the contractors in charge of the federal roads, the minister issued the warning, saying that the subpar work was no longer acceptable.
Most of the roads being built in the nation right now, according to Umahi, won’t be able to withstand use for seven years.
He scowled at the way Nigerians were duped by the contractors who provided the materials for the building of the nation’s roadways.
This cannot occur in any of your nations, our international contractors.
“The convenience of the public is always taken care of first whenever a project is being worked on. We seem to be being used as a joke and taken for granted, in my opinion.
You think you’re doing us a favour, but you’re not; this is business, and this mindset has to change, he said.
He also lamented the discomfort and suffering Nigerians endure while riding on federal roads, claiming that while he was travelling from Abuja to Edo, he had to experience their suffering.
He claimed that by using contract variations and asphalt materials, which are dependent on the price of crude oil on the world market, the contractors defraud the government and continually raise the cost of projects.
No project is now being built in Nigeria, in his opinion, that will continue for seven years.
“Is it our intention to maintain or reconstruct our highways every ten years?
“That is exactly what we have been doing. By way of Lokoja, I journeyed from Abuja to Benin City. According to the previous administration’s strategy, every length of road is under contract and being maintained.
“As I personally travelled the highways, I cried in sympathy for the suffering that our people are experiencing.
“I drove for 14 hours, starting at 10 in the morning, and arrived in Benin City at 2 the next afternoon. I was glad I felt the pangs.
He added, “President Tinubu ordered me to visit all the projects so that I could brief him on my experience and tell him the truth.”
