By Jabiru Hassan
The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. (Sen.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has directed Federal Controllers of Works across the country to prevent contractors from scarifying where existing pavement structures are stable. Instead, he instructed that they should mill and overlay the asphalt.
According to him, this approach will significantly reduce construction costs, ensure durability, and improve the delivery time of road projects.
He issued the directive while briefing the media after inspecting ongoing road projects in Lagos and Ogun states.
On the Ikorodu-Ito-Ikin Road in Lagos State, the Minister expressed displeasure over the contractor, Messrs Geld (Nig.) Limited, for using funds meant for road construction to carry out mere palliative works. He demanded that the company immediately return to the site for active construction, refund the money, or face legal action and financial penalties from the Federal Government.
“The era of scamming the government is over with the coming of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” he declared.
At the rehabilitated section of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway, where Julius Berger (Nig.) PLC had only completed one side of the dual carriageway, the Minister disclosed that out of the remaining 78 kilometers, the Ogun State Government has taken over 60 kilometers, while the Ministry will handle the remaining 18.
He further announced that the Ministry is redesigning the remaining portion using continuous reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) technology. He added that the project will soon be procured through selective tendering, without excluding JBN PLC from participation.
After receiving a briefing from the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Olukorede Kesha, on the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Section I: Agbara Junction – Badagry Roundabout), the Minister commended the contractor, Messrs CGC (Nig.) Limited.
The project is part of Nigeria’s segment of the ECOWAS Lagos-Abidjan Highway. According to the Minister, “CGC is doing a fantastic job,” and wherever they operate in the country, they have demonstrated capacity and quality.
Engr. Umahi revealed that about 80% of the work has been completed, and it is scheduled for commissioning in April, along with other completed projects.
Promising that the second section will soon be procured with the adoption of CRCP, he assured that a report has been submitted to the President for a decision. As Chairman of the ECOWAS Ministers of Works/Infrastructure on the corridor, he proposed that each member state should construct its section of the highway.
He reiterated that the project is divided into two sections: the first, from Agbara Junction to Badagry Roundabout, and the second, from Badagry Roundabout to Seme at the Nigeria-Benin Republic border. These sections have total lengths of 24.3 kilometers and 21.8 kilometers, respectively.
According to the Minister, the primary focus is on the first section, where CGC is performing excellently and requires more motivation to complete the work. He also stated that the road, initially designed as a four-lane carriageway, has been redesigned to six lanes.
The Minister also inspected the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Shagamu Road in Lagos and Ogun states, executed by Messrs Arab Contractors. The 30.4-kilometer project, according to the Federal Controller of Works in Ogun State, Engr. F.F. Oloyede, is progressing satisfactorily without any hindrances.
Accompanying the Minister on the tour were the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunsho Adebiyi, Director of Highways, Bridges, and Design, Engr. Bede Obioha, and several technical staff from the Ministry.
