FG, COREN Collaborate To Develop Nigerian Roads The FG and the  Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) have both met to discuss the way forward to develop Nigerian roads, the Minister of Works, H.E Sen. (Engr.) David Nweze Umahi CON  represented the Ministry and presided over the meeting while the President and Chairman of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Engr. Prof Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, FNSE led the engineering team to   the meeting, the deliberation  was held at the Ministry of Works Headquarter in Mabushi, Abuja.   The Minister in his remarks said “I want to involve COREN and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in our road construction. l have gone round three regions of Nigeria, I am very dissatisfied with the supervision of these construction works. It seems that it is only in the South West that there are very capable hands and hardworking Directors and controllers, notwithstanding, will put the same template to use in all the regions”.   “We would like you to join us as COREN, there is no concrete road constructed in Ebonyi that has not lasted Seven years, our recommendation is that most of our highways are  going to be a continuous reinforced highways, this is the vision of the Ministry” he added.   Umahi further said “when growing up in engineering we use to have consultant, consultant would always know that if they compromised their certificate of practice will be withdrawn even at the ministry level, that is the kind of discipline we want to bring on our road infrastructure, there is no supervision in all our projects, like I said other than the South West. Henceforth every project is going to have one senior consultant later we can begin to have other junior ones, like surveyor, geotechnical and material engineers and other road engineers“.   He enjoined COREN to join him in the propagation for the reintroduction of Concrete pavement in Nigeria. The Minister said that no road that was built in this country had lasted more than three to four years even in the Northern part of Nigeria, he said that the roads in the South East are collapsing even while still under construction. The design in the roads are mostly built below the flood plain and the rains comes, and they are washed away, in his words, the Minister said he counted 9 locations that have collapsed.   The President of COREN in his reaction said “having listened  to you carefully COREN  and NSE  will key into these new positions that you have mentioned, the lack of supervision  you talked about, will be addressed, and we  believe that needs to change totally, we will be able to give our own contribution in that respect”.   He said “COREN   has been restructured, we now have, six Regional offices, with Lagos as a special Region, and then the  thirty six state offices with desk offices with seven departments, these  will play key roles in this supervision, we have developed  a protocol  to engage our members. l believe we are going to play a positive role when we develop modalities on how this will be worked out“.   “ln the aspect of seven professionals per project we are going to look at that and also contribute, the introduction of reinforced concrete, there is a ministerial committee with this ministry which have been working on the specification. l am the chairman of that committee with senior expert along with the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FERMA and others in the next one month we will make the submission and  interim report to you, that should be the first point of engagement which  will expand the horizon for us to this new agenda of concrete road pavement” he said. ...

FG in Discussion with Hitech.....Yet to Award .....Lagos -Calabar Coastal Highway. The attention of the Ministry of Works has been drawn to information reported online by nairametrics.com crediting a statement to H.E, Sen. (Engr) David Nweze Umahi the Hon. Minister of works as saying that the: “FG Awards LAGOS -CALABAR COASTAL HIGHWAY TO HITECH”.   This information is totally untrue and misleading.   The general public is to please note and be well guided and for the RECORDS. The FG has only recently opened a maiden  discussion with the Engineering company- HITECH on this project, a  second meeting is being considered to further access the the possibility of the project being handled by them.The Ministry has not awarded any such Contract nor has signed any such Contract Agreement with any company in this regard.   To this effect, media organizations are to please ensure their facts are duely authenticated with the Federal Ministry of Works before putting out incorrect information to the public.   Let's be more thorough in our journalistic activities as the Ministry appreciates as always the cordial and positive reportage of the Ministry's Policies and Programs. ...

Minister of Works Inspects Pilot Concrete Road Project in Cross River State, Enumerates Its Benefits .....“Let me use this opportunity to debunk reports that I refused to sign certificate of contractors” - Umahi. The Honourable Minister of Works H.E. Sen (Engr) David Nweze Umahi  while rounding off his tour of the South-South Federal highways and bridges, also  inspected a pilot concrete road  project  that was constructed by the Cross River State Government in Calabar on Friday.   The technology was borrowed from one of Works Minister’s constructed roads in Ebonyi State during his tenure as Governor of the state, the Minister also used the opportunity to highlight the huge benefits and importance of the construction of concrete roads in Nigeria.   During the inspection of the concrete road along Nyong Edem Street in Calabar South , Umahi said “ this pilot project is being initiated by the Governor of Cross River State and this is what we are talking about and I want the press people to see it, in the next 50 to 60 years nobody will touch this road , it  has  being a pilot project from the Governor and his very hard working Commissioner, I want to encourage him to use this concrete to do all his road works and he will not have any regret weather there is rain or sun, this road will continue to remain the way it is and this is what we are talking about “, adding that “ a lot of failures on our roads is because of the method of construction , so I commend the Governor for this bold initiative and I want him to expand it to all his roads”.   The Minister used the opportunity to highlight   the benefits of concrete roads as follows; it lasts up to 50years, cheaper than asphalt, concrete roads contract can be determined without increase in price , It will lift the pressure on the naira as there won’t be need for bitumen importation, nothing less than 10 companies have indicated interest in opening cement factories , it will create jobs , no expatriate is doing the job but local people through direct labour, we are developing our engineering profession , allowing local content by  allowing local engineers to practice what they have learnt  and it will create expansion of the existing cement companies to 90%  from the current 30%.   While responding to allegation of refusal to sign contract certificate, the Minister said “let me use this opportunity to debunk the report that I refuse to sign certificate of contractors and that contractors are dying.   That's not the truth, l am signing the certificates that I am convinced that are all right   but when a project is N34b and is jerked up to N120b or a project that is N44b is jerked up to N126b, I am a civil engineer I have been on this for 30years or more and I am a member of Nigeria Society of Engineers, as a professional anything you sign, you have to know and you have to take responsibility for it “.   Umahi said “ I won’t sign anything I cannot defend, I have told Mr. President this and he is supporting me , so those whose certificates are clear and ok, I have signed, those whose roads have failed I will not sign, they have to go and fix the road back. That is the truth, they say I am signing a certificate for contractors that big men are behind, the only big man before me is God Almighty and Mr. President.“   The Governor of  Cross Rivers State Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu in his remarks said to the Minister “I am so glad today that we have such an action Minister , We started this pilot project as a matter of fact we borrowed this technology from Ebonyi because when we checked the cost and the durability and sustainability we came to the conclusion, we have to do something very economical but beneficial to the people , we are going to replicate this in many localities in as much as you give us your support”.   The Commissioner for Works, Cross River State, Hon. Pius Edet in his appreciation of the Minister's visit said “Your Excellency I want to thank you very much for coming as the proponent of Modern Construction facility in Nigeria, as a proponent of concrete pavement, we felt that it will not be fair to allow you leave without seeing one of your theory being implemented. We pray that God gives you more wisdom and ideology for the success of our country”. ...