As the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, continues to seek solutions for the durability of Nigerian roads, he has placed a ban on the use of laterite as a base in road construction.
The minister, therefore, directed contractors to, henceforth, use lumps, sharp sand, and stone bases as the subgrade before laying concrete or asphalt pavement.
He gave this directive while inaugurating a committee for the supervision of the reconstruction of the Benin-Warri dual carriageway and the dualization of East-West Road, Port Harcourt-Onne Port junction road in River State.
Umahi’s directive was contained in a statement signed by the Director (Information), Press, and Public Relations of the Ministry, Lere-Adams Blessing, in Abuja on Friday, Vanguard reports.
According to her, Umahi noted that laterite has a limited load-bearing capacity, is susceptible to erosion and weathering, especially in areas with heavy rainfall, and this can lead to degradation of the road surface over time, poses a maintenance challenge, and does not last long.
Umahi is quoted as saying, “We are giving very serious attention to the roads between Benin and Warri. On the road between Eleme and Onne Port, we are mindful of the site conditions of these roads, the water conditions, and the boreholes instead of potholes on these roads.
“No more laterite; contractors are now to use lumps, sharp sand, and stone bases in place of laterite.”
The Minister also directed the newly inaugurated Road Taskforce Team that there must be continuous maintenance of all the roads under construction until the end of the project.
He instructed them to ensure that the contractors are duly informed of the development and that they should remember that the ministry is under a matching order given by Mr. President.
to fix Nigerian roads for the citizens to have ease of movement from one location to another.
Umahi said, “The committee must implement the contract agreement with maintenance culture as a key. Committee members are to monitor the contractors closely to make sure things are done right.
“Our contractors can now understand that we are not insisting that things have to change without a reason, but that society is demanding the sustainability and integrity of the work they are doing”.
Umahi disclosed that road infrastructure is one of the key factors in the evolution of commerce, education, security, and power in this country and that Mr. President is committed to our road infrastructure improvement. Thus, the Ministry is on a mission to uphold the renewed hope agenda of this administration on road infrastructure provision.
“I want to say that road infrastructure is one of the key factors in the revolution of our commerce, education, security, and power in this country, and Mr. President is committed to our road infrastructure, so we are on a mission and we must take back our country,” he added.
