…Says concrete technology is way to go
By Hillary Asemota
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has frowned at the N15 billion cost of Ozalla-Isu-Onitsha Road with bridges, even as he urged for downward review of the contract sum to N4 billion.
The Minister made the disclosure on Wednesday while on inspection tour of the Rehabilitation of Outstanding Section of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme with contract details No: 7629.
He said: “I saw the road leading to Ozalla-Isu-Onitsha, I’m very shocked that four bridges and 3km additional road is said to be costing N15 billion, I believe strongly that there’s no other way it will cost us more than N4 billion.
While explaining the shift from asphalt construction to concrete, Umahi, said the fight on turning to use of concrete technology in road construction is a continuous one.
In an interview with Journalists, he reiterated the overarching benefits due to its durability with a life span of over 50 years, explaining that it can also stand for these number of years before it will require maintenance more.
According to him, bitumen import impacts the country’s foreign exchange and also of sub-standard which cannot stand the number of expected years, also it’s cheaper to build with much local content sourced materials.
He said: “I have looked at the cost of bindal cause, the wearing costs on our roads, it is safer doing it on concrete, it’s going to be cheaper, Niger Cat are doing it that’s why I directed that the right-hand side of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway be done on concrete.”
He directed that Enugu Section lll – Port-Harcourt expressway by Messrs. CGC Nig Ltd also that the second carriage way be totally done on concrete, “we are safer on concrete in the South-east and that’s what we are going to be doing.” he added.
Umahi frowned at the costing of Ozalla-Isu-Onitsha and additional 3km with bridges to cost N15 billion, he instructed that the work be brought back to be looked at.
He said: ” I saw the road leading to Ozalla-Isu-Onitsha, I’m very shocked that four bridges and 3km additional road is said to be costing N15 billion, I believe strongly that there’s no other way it will cost us more than N4 billion.
He made it known that contractors should stay aside when budget is too expensive and budgeting process is low because it’s unhealthy for the contractor.
“What I want to do when a budget is too expensive and budgeting process is very low, the contractors can stay aside like what we are witnessing 10 to 15 years, it’s not healthy for the contractor, because he is losing money on equipment and maintaining the work”.
“Ogbulafor-Okalagun roads because it was awarded in 2010, the whole shoulders are gone.”
Earlier, the contractor while explaining the work, said it will be completed by April 2025, adding that funding was not a problem.
