He said each technology has conditions attached to its deployment on Nigerian roads.
This was as he reinforced his stance on the six main policies of the ministry to guide road construction.
Umahi disclosed these policies when the national leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, led by its President, Tasiu Wudil, paid him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja.
According to Umahi, the clarification became important because several factors came up over the alternative of concrete technology only because “all things are not equal and can only be understood by professionals and not by people who have no knowledge about them.”
In separate statements signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister and the Assistant Director of information, Media, and Public Relations in the ministry, Orji Uchenna and Clement Ezeorah, respectively, on Friday, the former Ebonyi governor explained that the ministry’s position is not about comparing asphalt pavement and concrete pavement but that contractors using either of them must follow certain conditions according to the terrain.
The minister said, “We are not just comparing asphalt and concrete; no, that is not what we are doing. First of all, for the use of asphalt, these are the conditions; also, for the use of concrete, these are the conditions, but there are certain terrains in states that we stress must use concrete; we cannot change that. You cannot put asphalt in water, but you can put concrete in water.”
The minister explained that the rate at which the prices of these two products fluctuate is alarming and that the increment in asphalt is geometric, while that of concrete is in arithmetic progression.
He noted that the Federal Government is the one funding the projects and must tread with caution, taking into consideration the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Works.
Umahi expressed worry about the poor supervision of public works and promised to work with the Nigerian Society of Engineers to check quackery and improve the quality of engineering services, especially on federal road projects.
He said, “If we are committed to public things, God will give you new ideas; if you are not committed to public things, you will not get new ideas.
“We are going to partner with NSE in the supervision of all road projects and will also emphasise the need for retraining schools across states.
“Engineering is wide; if you are a professional engineer, you will not have a problem with professional ethics.
“The first job of NSE is to bring discipline; you have to bring us under your leadership, so if you hear that a member has committed fraud, you can disrobe him, and it is not everyone that will answer the name engineer.”
The statement by the CPS further noted that, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure quality delivery of construction works, the Minister of Works emphasised the six policies to guide road construction projects across the country.
Umahi further emphasised that to put an end to the ‘business as usual’ syndrome that has become commonplace in road construction, it was imperative that the ministry roll out policies to achieve quality delivery of road construction works across the country.
He listed them to include a “good stabilised and tested subgrade and sub-base course before pavement placement. Expose subgrade, sub-base, and base course to 60 days of vehicular movement and continuous sheep-foot rolling before pavement placement.
“Introduction of reinforced concrete road pavement in most roads’ carriageways and shoulders. Continuous maintenance of all roads under construction throughout the life of the project under contract.
“Effective design of road infrastructure is anchored on a detailed report of environmental site conditions and a geotechnical report. Community relations in terms of keeping roads motorable under the period of the contract.”
