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”. ...

Minister of Works Narrates His Tour of East West Road Experience To Akwa-Ibom And Cross River States Governments. "...Driving through the East West Rd to feel what people are feeling shows that the right person is on the saddle of operation - Deputy Gov. Akwa Ibom to Umahi The Honourable Minister of Works H.E. Sen (Engr) David Nweze Umahi, has narrated his experience during the tour of East West road to Akwa Ibom and Cross River State Governments while meeting with them at their respective states on Thursday.   The Minister said “We have been on tour of  East West Road , and I think that the heart of the economy of the Niger Delta people rest on this East West road, I started since Sunday from Abuja through Kogi to Benin , it has been a very ugly experience , I was on the road for 14hours, in some cases we could not pass we have to start going through villages, we saw trucks that have been on the road for more than 7days and then we came into Benin, East West road continues to Warri , it is the same story in some of the locations you see trucks piling over 5kilomettres parked because of bad road , Sapele to Agbor is so terrible , all these projects have been awarded by the previous administration which is a very good intention but while the contractors are on site working , the roads are failing”.   He continued “  I have challenged them to tell us why the roads are failing and they have not been able to do so , the dummy they sold to our people that because the roads are being overloaded , I have challenged them and they have shut their mouth up because they are doing bad construction work , there is no road they are building that is going to last 5years , if you take from Warri down to Port Harcourt , it is a very terrible experience , if President Tinubu did not send me to intervene,  in 30days nobody can travel from here to Warri, it is impossible , we have over 10 locations where the roads are below the flood lane and one section has already cut off “.   The Minister said to the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Sen (Dr)Akon Eyakenyi “In section 2 of the East West road, I got very pleased with the bridges but the roads are very bad,  I have directed the contractor  to use his money and reconstruct it, the claim  that it is flood, I didn’t buy into that, he must reconstruct it with his money I don’t want to mention the name of the contractor , you can’t be working on the road and they are getting bad and you are asking us to pay you “.   “In  14days,  the entire length of the roads that are ongoing in this country the entire stretch must be maintained to relief the ugly incidence that we are seeing on our roads where the people are suffering, I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that asked me to tour all the roads all over the country, he mandated me to tour the road as a  fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers to be able to assess it myself and bring up a comprehensive report to him , and I can assure you that at the time we roll out the concrete road pavement  that the Mr President invented and directed , Niger Delta people will be very happy “ He remarked.   Umahi said he had  inspected section 3 of the East West Road under RCC Construction company coming down to the boundary between Rivers and Akwa Ibom where the road is lower than the plain, he said the scope was not good enough  but had introduced another kind of technology for additional work which they would use  to raise the road.   The Minister reiterated the need to toll the roads, and said states needed to get involved in the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).   The Minister has also directed that, when anyone sees any section of the road being worked upon by a contractor and it is not motorable, the contractor should be stopped by the people immediately.   The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State hailed the appointment of the Minister of Works saying “I stand here today on behalf of the Governor and the people of Akwa Ibom to welcome you on this official one day visit to Akwa Ibom State on inspection of Federal roads in Akwa Ibom State. I am very happy this is happening it is a proof that the right person is on the saddle of operation where you have to move personally to drive through all the bad roads to see things for yourself and to feel what the people of the area are feeling, it is the best thing to happen and I am very sure that will give you a great drive to do the needful, we are very grateful and I am very certain that this visit will bring good tiding to Akwa Ibom State”.   The Governor of Cross River State His Excellency, Senator  (Prince) Bassey Otu on his part said “We jubilated here over your appointment, the whole country is going to be better for it , I believe that contractors won’t do bad jobs and go with it, if government officials are not with them, our jubilation was based on the fact that you merited this appointment , you have already started well , just within a few days in office you have identified  some of the problems  and thank you so much for bringing innovation and all these ideas". ...

FG Will No Longer Accept Road Contract Certificate for Payment Generated by One Person – Umahi .....No one will make unnecessary request during road construction – Eleme LGA Chairman. The Honourable Minister of Works H.E Sen (Engr) David Nweze Umahi has remarked that the Federal Government will no longer accept road contract certificate for payment generated by one person, he made this statement while inspecting some roads within Rivers and Akwa Ibom States on Wednesday.   He said “No longer will certificate for payment be generated by one person, contractor must sign it, resident engineer as well. state controllers, regional controllers, and they will all endure inspections are done, state Commissioners of Works shall generate work done, prepare the certificate with calculations and geotechnical reports, sketches and valuation, then they will bring it to me, the moment I see that things are working I will sign within 6hours”.   “I have directed that any project that motor users cannot go through the entire length and breadth of the project awarded to a contractor, I will not sign the certificate, contractors must maintain all the roads,  the length and breath within their contract , I am directing the controllers and Directors of the Regions to ensure between Abuja and Port Harcourt they must fix the remedial works within the next 14days” He briefed the press.   The Minister, speaking further said “how could a  payment certificate be given for a road that has failed and the contractor is on site and you turn around to blame the leaders, who signs the papers ?, you  sign the paper and originate the certificate but I have directed that enough is enough , they must show me how increase in our contracts come about , anyone can sign a paper for them to pay but as for me I will not sign anything that I don’t know how it came about if you want to do ashphalt continue with it but you must sign a performance bond that the road must not fail within the life time of the project , I want Nigerians to know that overloading is not responsible for failure of the road , most of the contractors have jobs in more than ten locations with two equipment so they cannot cope with the volume of jobs”.   The Minister had also   directed that any contractor without COREN Certified Engineer must not be allowed to work, he said any consultant or civil servant that behaved the way they have been behaving their certificate would be withdrawn.   Umahi said President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is determined to end the sufferings of the road users in Nigeria, he said “road is everything to this country, road is everything to Commerce, road is everything to Solid Mineral, Medicine, Education, Agriculture and to Food Security".   The Honourable Minister was approached by youths of Eleme during his inspection for upgrading of four lanes to six lanes for Eleme junction to Onne junction road projects in Rivers State where he promised them that he would work with the youths to ensure that the road does not remain the same.   Earlier the Eleme Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Obarilomate Ollor who spoke on behalf of the youths said “ I thank the Minister for coming to inspect this road on behalf of Mr President , this bad road has been responsible for the untimely death of so many people and more that ten thousands of vehicles ply this route daily , and from what you have said the youths will cooperate with you to deliver this project and we will not make unnecessary request”.   Some of the projects inspected by the Minister in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states included Aba- Port Harcourt road, Bodo Bonny road, Ogoni bridge, Reconstruction of Abak – Ekparakwa –Ette- Ikot Abasi road and the dualization of the East West Road Section four at Eket By Pass. ...