FG To Review All Road Projects with Augmentation - Umahi Minister of Works Sen. (Engr).  David Nweze Umahi has made it known that he will review all projects having augmentations.   He made this statement while granting an interview with Pressmen during the Inspection tour of the reconstruction of Bende - Ohafia - Arochukwu road section  I in Abia State on Thursday September 7, 2023.   The Minister explained why he wants to review the projects, though not as proof, but because he wants to have the knowledge why a project is being reviewed. His words " I have directed that all the regional Directors will work with my team of consultants to review all the projects that are having augmentation. It's not a proof but l want to answer many questions about a project for example project awarded in many number of years for say 2 billion is now ten billion l should be able to answer that. " I seek for knowledge to know why projects are being reviewed, whether it will ever have augmentation, l want to unravel the augmentation even though BPP would have approved it. if I feel the augmentation is not necessary, I will bring down the cost. He added.   Umahi said that the review of the augmentation is to also help him to answer Mr President, the National Assembly, the Nigerian masses and the Press so he will be able to defend what ever augmentation that arises.   While answering questions on whether the success story of his Ebonyi state advocacy on concrete technology being replicated across the country will be supported, he said, that depends on the stability of the road for instance in the Northern part of the country the use of asphalt can be used but not in all situations. " Depending on the stability of the road like in the North we can do asphalt, but that is not to say concrete cannot be used. With asphalt in the Northern part of the country, that will last for ten years, if you use concrete it will last for fifty years".   Engr. Umahi expressed happiness with the pace of work in the areas that the contractor is handling.   Speaking earlier, the contractor, M/S HARTLAND NIG. LTD. explained that the contract was awarded in 2020 with total number of forty-five kilometer and they could only conclude on 4km of the road. ...

Umahi To Collaborate with South-East Governors in Road Infrastructural Development of The Region. The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Nweze David Umahi has expressed optimism that collaboration with the South-East Governors will transform the region’s road infrastructural development, thereby bringing an end to the perennial issue of failed roads and none motorable roads in the region.   Umahi made this statement when he paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti and his counterpart, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mba respectively during his ongoing inspection tours of Federal Road projects in the region.   The Minister at each visit listed and narrated all the federal road projects in the state and pleaded for collaboration and synergy to getting the work done which he says will bring development and boost socio-economic and commercial activates in the region.   “We have 11 federal road projects ongoing in Abia state and up to ten in Enugu state and all of them are going on well,  some are on Tax credit Scheme, while others on MTN sponsorship, some others on Sukuk, they all have funding and the ones on budget we will do something about it to make sure the roads are put in use for our people, get us informed if you notice anything wrong and I suggest the appointment of an SSA on federal roads, this will help to get you informed well on any issue that may delay work” He said.   Umahi took time to explain to them FG's new proposal on what it calls Brown Field and Green Field Projects which he noted will bring to an end the issues of dragging for refund on money spent by state government in constructing federal roads in their states, this is rather an easy agreement and transparency incorporated.   “You can do federal roads if you want but no refund for now from federal government because there is no money, but I suggest you key in into what we call Green field or Brown Field Road Projects.  You construct a new road you toll it get your money and we start to share the profit, or you take up a constructed road, to maintain it, you toll get your money and we share the profit, we can talk more on it” he said.   The Minister introduced the use of concrete pavement technology as a better option on road construction in the region considering the soil texture of the region, more so that it’s cheaper, safer and it lasts longer than asphalt without maintenance for a longer time.   “It is safer doing it on concrete and it’s cheaper, Asphalt is good, but it will not last long.  I believe strongly that if we start using it in the region it will help us because water does not disturb it rather it makes it stronger without much maintenance but it's durable having stayed for long” he said.   He pledged his support for states in delivering the dividend of democracy to the citizens and the nation at large saying the federal government came prepared and determined to ensure that a significant milestone is achieved in providing good road network across the nation.   He directed the Federal Controllers of Works in the States to always be in close contact with Governors and must brief them on any project to be executed in the state and also to speak up  freely if there is any challenge that needs state attention.   Also, to check insecurity on the highways, the Minister encouraged the Governors to clear roadsides at least up to fifty (50) meters inside which he said will give a clear vision and feasibility in case of any emergency and can also be used for agricultural crops that doesn’t grow tall.   Responding, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti welcomed the Minister for his visit which he said came right in time as the new government prepares to embark on some road projects in the state and promise to key into rigid pavement technology.   He congratulated him on his appointment describing it as a well-deserved appointment considering his antecedents in infrastructural development in Ebonyi State and urged him to replicate same in the South-East and the Nation at large, for the benefit of all.   Responding the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah warmly received the Minister and commended his immediate response to visiting federal road projects in different states across the Nation describing it as desirable.   The Governor thanked him for his innovation on the use of concrete pavement which he affirmed was a good idea that is worth keying into and that he too shall introduce and use it as well. ...

"Fight on turning to Concrete is a continuous one - Umahi Engineer David Umahi, the Minister of Works has said that the fight on turning to the use of Concrete Technology in road construction is a continuous one.   The Minister made this statement while on inspection tour of the Rehabilitation of Outstanding Section of Onitsha - Enugu Expressway under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme - Contract no 7629 on September 6, 2023.   In an interview with Journalists, he gave reasons for using this concrete technology to be loaded with a whole lot of benefits, as being durable with a life span of over fifty years (50), and that it can stand for these number of years before it will require maintenance more than bitumen imported into the Country that are more of sub-standard which cannot stand the number of expected years, also it's cheaper to build with much local content sourced materials. In his words " I have looked at the cost of bindal cause, the wearing costs on our roads, it is safer doing it on concrete, it's going to be cheaper, Niger Cat are doing it that's why I directed that the right-hand side of the Enugu - Onitsha Expressway be done on concrete".   He directed that Enugu Section lll - Port-Harcourt expressway by Messrs. CGC Nig Ltd also that the second carriage way be totally done on concrete, "we are safer on concrete in the South East and that's what we are going to be doing" he added.   Umahi frowned at the costing of Ozalla - Isu - Onitsha and additional 3km with bridges to cost fifteen billion naira, he instructed that the work be brought back to be looked at. " I saw the road leading to Ozalla - Isu - Onitsha, I'm very shocked that four bridges and 3km additional road is said to be costing fifteen billion, I believe strongly that there's no other way it will cost us more than three - four billion.   He made it known that contractors should stay aside when budget is too expensive and budgeting process is low because it's unhealthy for the contractor. " What I want to do when a budget is too expensive and budgeting process is very low, the contractors can stay aside like what we are witnessing ten to fifteen years, it's not healthy for the contractor, because he is losing money on equipment and maintaining the work".  "Ogbulafor - Okalagun roads because it was awarded in 2010, the whole shoulders are gone".   Earlier, the contractor while explaining the work, said it will be completed by April 2025 and also that there was no problem of funding. ...