.jpeg "Asphalt-using contractors are required to sign a 30-year indemnity agreement with Umahi.")
Governor Umahi made this statement on Monday in Abuja during a press conference aimed at unveiling the overall trajectory of the ministry under his leadership, as reported by NANA.
According to his statement, contractors who utilize asphalt would not encounter any impediments; nonetheless, they are required to get into a durability agreement.
The minister, though, stressed that the implementation of concrete road building would not be mandated for projects that have already been awarded.
The speaker also stated that contractors would be required to provide a guarantee that asphalt roads would have a lifespan of up to 30 years, while concrete roads would have a longer durability.
The cessation of asphalt works is not being implemented; however, it is impractical to allocate funds towards a project that is anticipated to have a lifespan of less than five years.
Contractors often employ the convenient justification of overloading as a means to conceal their negligence in constructing roads that lack durability.
Nigeria should strive to ensure that taxpayers receive commensurate value for their financial contributions, thereby curbing the prevalence of contractors engaging in dubious practices and receiving remuneration for substandard work.
When the concrete road is constructed in accordance with suitable techniques, it has the potential to endure for a period of 50 years. Our previous experiences with such construction have yielded positive outcomes, with the exception of the project executed in Ebonyi.
The speaker asserted that prior to their departure from government, they successfully completed the construction of the Abakaliki Ridgeway Road, a project that was financially supported by the African Development Bank.
In reference to the allocation of funds for road infrastructure, Umahi expressed worry regarding the architecture of Nigeria's budgetary allocation system, which does not provide sufficient incentives for contractors to effectively and promptly execute federal road projects.
When a contractor is allocated an annual sum of N150 million for a road project valued at N600 million, it is likely that the contractor will retain the funds for personal gain while making preparations to commence work, without any tangible progress being made on the project site.
According to the speaker, when faced with the situation, the individual in question will assert that he has not yet received the needed material from abroad due to insufficient funds.
The individual made a plea to the National Assembly for the disbursement of the withheld sum of over N650 billion, which was allocated for various projects nationwide. These projects are reported to be nearing completion, although the absence of the funds has resulted in contractors remaining on site.
Governor Umahi expressed that in the event of these monies not being returned, the completion of the roads will be hindered, hence resulting in a detrimental economic consequence, as per his statement.
The minister recommended that the National Assembly members, who represent various Senatorial districts, engage in consultations with their respective state governors to identify priority projects that may be feasibly accomplished within the given timeframe.
He proposed that in order to mitigate the occurrence of citizen kidnappings along highways, it is necessary to cultivate economic trees and cash crops along road corridors as a preventive measure against this danger.
It is imperative that Nigerians receive commensurate benefits from their tax contributions. The state of the roads holds significant importance, as areas plagued by kidnapping incidents often coincide with regions characterized by poor road conditions. In order to address this issue, it is advisable to clear the surrounding vegetation and replace it with economically viable crops.
The aforementioned approach is deemed optimal and socially acceptable, warranting its widespread implementation across all regions of the nation. According to his statement, he asserted that the implementation of this measure will effectively eliminate instances of kidnappings.
The individual further stated that the ministry intends to assess the activities of the Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA) in order to guarantee that any assistance provided to states is carried out in collaboration with the respective state governments.
As to his assertion, this will ascertain the primary domains of focus for state administrations.