Highway Inspection: Umahi Tours Roads in Abuja, Kogi, Edo in One Day …..FG to RCC - "Reconstruct failed section of Lokoja -Abuja Road” …..Consultant to supervise road construction henceforth - Minister. The Honourable Minister of Works, H.E, Sen. ( Engr) David Nweze Umahi ,CON in his continuous assessment of Nigeria's highways in order to find lasting  solution to them since his  assumption of duty has  embarked on several roads  inspections in the country  in the South West , South East while currently touring the  North Central and  South-South Geo-Political Zones of the Country.   Umahi during his inspection of Gada- Biyu Bridge bound 1 & 2 on the Lokoja - Abuja road directed RCC Contractor in charge of the construction work to reconstruct the failed section of the road that was earlier constructed by the company, he said " we have so many failed portions of the road, they have to go round and give me the list of failed portions of the road before returning to work to reconstruct them and stone base must be used, not dust base”.   The Minister said “We must get a reputable consultant to supervise the road construction so that when the road fails, we can hold them accountable, something must be done to change from the present situation of how we construct our roads, our roads should be constructed on concrete, he made this remark while inspecting Phase II of Lokoja –Okene road in Kogi State.   Umahi has also directed that the Ministry should review the road works of CGC Construction Company and revert to his office within seven days, adding that every road being constructed must have a consultant because majority of the job done have all failed because they were not built with concrete.   He told some of the road contractors where he inspected that no one would increase contract price under him and a single lane must be followed to the end where the job is less than 50% on any ongoing dual carriageway under construction.   Some of the roads  inspected on Sunday included the  : Dualisation of Abuja  -Lokoja Road Section II , Sheda – Abaji; Gada Biyu bridge bound 1 & 2 Lokoja ; Rehabilitation and Construction of Abuja -Lokoja Road ; Lokoja – Benin Road ; Okene –Auchi – Benin road (Kogi /Edo States ) ; Obajana Junction –Benin Road Section II ;  dualisation of Auchi –Ehor Section II  Benin Way and Agbor –Ewu road project in Uromi , Edo State. ...

President Tinubu Supports Concrete Road Technology. ...Nigeria to respect right engineering practices - UMAHI The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is interested in concrete road technology, since this is more durable and fairly moderate in cost effectiveness. The Minister also stressed that the time has come for all Contractors working in Nigeria to ensure that they respect strictly the Global Right Best Practices in Engineering that enhances the durability of all construction work, both for roads and bridges with the best quality of materials being used.   The Minister made this statement during a meeting with contractors handling projects in the North East Geo-political Zone of Nigeria.   In his words "I had recently met with contractors handling road dualization projects and my position on the issue is to take one lane and complete it because of paucity of fund, but with the availability of money they could start the second lane. We can manage with one lane instead of not having anything at all,' he said.   Umahi said, presently we have up to N14 Trillion on-going projects against Eighteen Thousand Kilometers, adding that with the Renewed Hope Mantra contractors should not stay on site more than four years.   The Minister frowned at situations where some contracts have been on-going for 20 years, he said it was not good for the contractors, not good for the projects and not good for the client.   "We are introducing CONCRETE ROAD TECHNOLOGY and some of you are not happy about it. Some are saying it is too expensive but we have to try the both and see which is better.   "In any case, any contractor with an on- going project that is not willing to cooperate with us for a redesign with concrete road technology which with fifty years period free of maintenance, we'll demand for performance bond. The situation and time when roads are built on asphalt and within two to three years the project is back to square one is gone," he said.   He highlighted the reasons for road failure which among others include, poor workmanship from contractors, importation of adulterated bitumen into the country and the laying of less than correct thickness of asphalt.   Umahi said, our people were suffering as a result of poor workmanship and all manner of cheating and we have come to solve the perennial problem once and for all.   "We don't witness this kind of construction pattern in developed countries, you came from developed countries so we are going to respect Engineering Best Practices in Nigeria. We will build a road that is going to last," he said.   The Minister however disclosed that subsequent signing of certificate would be based on status certificate.   Umahi was delighted to inform the contractors handling projects in the North East Zone of the country not to bother to report him to Mr. President because he had already reported himself to him on all issues.   The Minister said he is taking instruction directly from Mr. President and he is interested in concrete road technology.   "He has given a tooth to bite and to bite Nigerians into Good Roads so that they can Enjoy. This will be one of the Greatest Legacies of Mr. President and other legacies he is bringing so that the world will know we are not here for business but we are here for an assignment," he said. ...

DFA of Works Ministry Has Fully Complied with FG Directive   The Director of Finance and Account (DFA) in the Ministry of Works, Yusuf Dahiru Girel has fully complied with government’s directive to proceed on posting to another ministry.   The information going on in the media that former DFA of Works has defiled the Federal Government directive on posting is misleading and baseless.   The posting of staff by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) is an internal issue within the Federal Service and no staff has been reported to have refused directive at the Ministry till date.   Members of the public are hereby urged to disregard the information making the round within some sections of the media that there was a drama as to the effect of refusal of posting by any staff within the Ministry. ...