Federal Government Flags-Off Emergency Repairs at The Third Mainland Bridge Superstructure ..... Approves The Repair of Over 260 Roads Nationwide   1. The Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is set to make a historic mark in road Infrastructure revolution in Nigeria. This was revealed by the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr Nweze David Umahi, CON during the flag-off of the emergency repair of the Third Mainland bridge, Lagos on the 8th day of November, 2023. The Hon. Minister during the event reiterated the determination of the President to turn around the accumulated ugly conditions of the Nigerian roads particularly the Federal Highways.   2. Speaking on the essence of the emergency repair of the Third Mainland Bridge, the Hon. Minister said that the conditions of the bridge superstructure and other elements including the loops and ramps connecting the bridge were bad and required urgent maintenance to serve the road users better. " This is yet another milestone in the actualization of the Renewed Hope agenda of the Divine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration which among other things is aimed at the total repositioning of the road and bridge infrastructure in Nigeria and to bring succour to road users who have suffered the effects of the decayed infrastructure over the years,"   3. The Hon. Minister recalled that the immediate past administration had awarded a contract for the comprehensive repair of the loops and ramps connecting to the Third Mainland bridge at the total cost of N6,278,063585.58. But the Renewed Hope administration of Mr President upon coming on board observed that the intervention was for a limited scope as it would not address the problems created by the extra layers of asphalt on the bridge deck of about 150mm thickness that occurred as a result of previous overlays which constitute extra dead load on the bridge."   4. According to the Hon. Minister, "it therefore became imperative to expand the scope of works as awarded to accommodate the additional works and quantities of work items needed to restore the integrity and serviceability of this very important bridge" Hence, the need to expand the scope of the contract which is now "awarded to Messrs CCECC Nig Ltd in the sum of N21,047,430,431.71.   5. The Hon Minister who used the opportunity to thank the President of Nigeria for approving the repair of over 260 Federal Roads across the nation also reiterated his Ministry's commitment to quality and timely delivery of road and bridge infrastructure in Nigeria, pointing out that under his watch, the road users will not suffer discomfort and inconveniences because of road repair. He maintained that his Ministry’s target is to ameliorate the sufferings of road users and give them the best comfort anyone can get in advanced countries of the world. On his own part, the Lagos State Governor who was represented by his Deputy, His Excellency, Dr Femi Hamzat assured the Hon Minister of Works of a robust partnership in the road revolution agenda of Federal Government, as far as Lagos State is concerned. He praised the initiative of the Federal Government in tackling the deficiencies in road Infrastructure across the nation.  The Governor also assured road users of adequate traffic management within Lagos State and adequate traffic plan during the festivities. The Governor thereafter performed the flag-off ceremony at the instance of the Hon. Minister of Works.   6. Repair works on the four ramps on the Third Mainland bridge started in earnest on the 6th day of November,2023 and is expected to be completed on or before 13th December,2023. The work of the major carriageway of the bridge will commence on 15th January, 2023. ...

Works Minister Inspects Lagos Bridges Minister of Works Engr. David Nweze Umahi was on a working visit to Third Mainland, Carter, Falomo, Iddo, Eko, Marina and Iganmu Bridges in Lagos State.   The Minister inspected the bridges alongside some Directors in the Ministry with contractors on Saturday 28th, October 2023.   Umahi, while briefing the Press, pointed out problems on the Third Mainland Bridge which was built in two sections Sixty years ago by an Italian Company and Julius Berger.   He said the reason for deflection on the bridge was lack of maintenance from the national level, other than the last administration where intervention came from and the State Government especially when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in office.   The Minister said due to the technicality of the job on Eko Bridge where the Bridge deck would be open, equipment worth one point two million Euros would be imported into the Country that would be used in maintaining the aspect of the bridge.   He commended the last administration's work on the bridge, the bridge suffered two problems. " Eko Bridge suffered two problems such as lack of maintenance, and the bearings eating up, lots of the pair gaps have serious issues but the last administration did a very good and wonderful work."   "Work is on going, it will finish in 2024 because we are pushing for increase in the number of workers and equipment to site, they are doing a beautiful work”.    Umahi said "Without Eko Bridge, we will not have any truck coming into Island so that is our saviour."   Engr. Umahi, thanked the President and the National Assembly for looking at Infrastructure strategically in Lagos State, the financial capital of the country which has lots of national infrastructure that tremendously add to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) therefore it cannot be neglected. He added.   The works Minister congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima on their victory at the supreme court  and urged the  leaders in the country to put the nation ahead of all interest  and the region. ...

Concrete Pavement Better than Asphalt Pavement - Umahi   The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Nweze David Umahi has reiterated that concrete road pavement is better, cheaper and will last longer than asphalt pavement in the construction of roads in some part of the country because of the terrain.   He stated this at a meeting with Directors of the Ministry held for purposes of clarification by the Minister that the use of concrete is not a cast on iron but has been tested to be better than asphalt. The meeting took place at the Ministry’s conference room on Tuesday October 3, 2023.   The Minister noted that there are a lot of advantages using concrete in road construction stressing  that roads built with concrete can last for 50 years without having issues of portholes or washout, concrete roads have a longer lifespan, it can withstand heavy traffic loads, low maintenance, less affected by temperature fluctuations.   “A lot of advantages accrue to the use of concrete to construct roads, concrete roads lasts longer compared to asphalt roads reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance, it’s stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance”.   Umahi maintained that nobody is insisting that all on going road construction in the nation should be changed to concrete but that can happen under the following conditions; all roads constructed with asphalt pavement must be on concrete shoulder; alternative design on the road shoulder, no shoulder on roads with surface dressing.   “Nobody is insisting that all ongoing jobs will be on concrete, but anyone that wants to continue with asphalt can continue under the following conditions: no shoulder on surface dressing, alternative design on shoulder all road of asphalt pavement must be on concrete shoulder”.   He added that some of the contractors are still working with obsolete and old machines the number of machines on site is hard to get up to 50% of needed machines to carry out the project including personnel.   He encouraged the directors to fill free to come to him for any suggestion or logical argument saying that the mission of Tinubu’s administration is to improve on the road infrastructure across the nation for the good of all.   “I am appealing to our consciences to see ourselves as people going to the same direction and pursuing the same agenda for the betterment of all.  All those in the field are the same with people in the office. Services in the office is what is keeping the services in the site". ...