Road Failure: FG must intensify compliance measures on implementation of concrete standard
One draining channel in Nigeria’s budgetary allocations has been the subject of reoccurring constructions which most times are largely points of tolls of failed roads receiving allocations in quick sucession for reconstruction. While the explanation has mostly appeared as funds for infrastructure, it is much pregnant that the justification for their durability has not found any relevance.
The lines of substandard constructions have become thickened across the Country. The subject is one which finds reflection in government funded roads. From the Federal to the Local Government, the deficiency has become heavy blowing on budgetary allocations.
In perspective, it speaks much losses as same roads in record, keep receiving recurring allocations for reconstruction only a few years after construction. There are cases as bad as roads failing after construction in less than one budgetary year period.
The situation with federal roads are of saddened narratives, particularly with huge allocations earmarked for them. It appears the feasting of mischievous actors in key government positions have made the culture of poor contract execution worsened, based on undue interests which have left contract processes and execution tracking largely in deficiencies.
Recently, a natiowide assessment tour of federal roads by the Federal Miniister of Works, Dave Umahi, left the Minister with the conclusion that no federal road under construction presently would last seven years. The Minister had noted that from the tour it was discovered major roads are riddled with potholes which he said have deteriorated into “boreholes.”
In his address to contractors from the six geo-political zones last month in Abuja, the Minister had expressed dissatisfaction over the poor work done by contractors over the years. Umahi who lamented the contractors have cheated Nigerians with the materials they use to construct roads in the Country, had said the contractors have been in the habit of increasing the cost of their projects to swindle the country through contract variation and the use of asphalt materials, which are subject to the international price of crude oil.
He had questioned the unauthorised additional work undertaken by contractors and urged them to obtain proper authorisation. He had emphasised the importance of thorough documentation and clearance procedures, making it clear that contracts would not be signed without the necessary design plans and original road blueprints.
The deficiencies had brought into bear the discourse on the directive for adherence to concrete standards for constructions of federal roads in the Country.
“There is no project being constructed right now in Nigeria that is going to last for seven years. The question is are we going to be maintaining or reconstructing our roads every 10 years? That is what we have been doing. I travelled from Abuja to Benin City through Lokoja, all the stretches of the road are on contract, and ongoing, this is through the policy of the last administration but how much of the roads are motorable?
“I travelled through the roads myself and I shed tears for the kind of pains our people are going. i spent 14 hours on the road having started my journey at 10 am and got to Benin City at 2 pm the next day and I was very happy I experienced the pains. President Tinubu said I must travel through all the projects so that I could brief him on my experience and tell him the truth.
“Unless Mr. President does something about our procurement, his lofty intention to help this country may not be achieved. documents will be sent to the Bureau of Public Procurement for a no-objection certificate and it will stay for six months. How will the contractors do the additional job you directed them to do without backup authorisation,” the Minister had said.
On the efforts to leave roads on concrete standard, the Federal Government in a bid to enforce compliance has issued a 14-day ultimatum for contractors to sign an addendum for compliance to concrete road pavement or face prosecution. Umahi had stated that some ‘elements,’ he said were benefitting from the prevailing system ridden with corruption, would be sent to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
He declared a 14-day ultimatum for all contractors, yet to comply with the new directive, to sign an addendum for the use of concrete road pavement. Umahi who said he has the backing of President Bola Tinubu in the implementation of the new directives, alleged that some “elements within” are sabotaging the Federal Government’s plans to redesign and construct yet-to-be-completed federal roads using reinforced concrete.
“There are some elements within that also fighting me who are also benefitting from the system. And that is the greatest problem we have and they are just pretending. And I will flush those elements out and send them to ICPC to handle them because nobody can hold this country to ransom,” Umahi had said while addressing State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Umahi, who had alleged connivance between non-compliant contractors and some government officials to adopt the use of reinforced concrete, announced that he had secured the President’s backing to proceed with the new policy.
“So I’m giving them the last chance to conform to what will help Mr. President to reset the country. We are also leveraging on the contract we signed; it is 14 days’ notice we are going to give,” he had said.
The Minister had disclosed that some contractors who are now complying can purchase bags of cement at specially discounted rates from major producers such as Dangote and BUA.
He had said: “I’ve had more than 10 meetings with contractors where we discussed this. We developed the design. We have developed the cost of doing concrete from the first principle: How much is cement? The cement factories, the Dangote and the BUAs have agreed to give special discounts to our contractors who are going to engage on concrete road pavement and many contractors are already doing it.
“Not all the contractors are in this gang up. Many contractors have come to sign addendums to doing the road’s pavement. Those who are meeting are going to be losers. And before them, they will see that we will do the job and we will do it very well.”
As highlighted, the advantages of concrete roads over asphalt/bitumen, offers cost effectiveness and the need to encourage local production of cement against importation of bitumen. The durability and life span of concrete roads have been tested by standards to be durable for longer years than the bitumen alternative which has been the order of road construction. The prevalent use of the latter have proven its low standards with successive failure of roads.
The need for the President Tinubu-led Federal Government to give all full and necessary backing for the new policy direction is important. As noted, giving discounts to contractors in the purchase of cements is a welcome idea that must be sustained. The linking benefits of boosting local production of cement in the country is a good justification, particularly at a time when the need to reduce import dominance is very alarming to preserve foreign exchange.
Amidst foreign exchange crisis with the alarming fall of Naira before the Dollar, importation of bitumen is one of the choices that may be forgone. Giving prominence to cement aided concrete roads would do better since cement is one key construction material largely produced in Nigeria.
Since the policy has been given justification of its healthy impacts, both on road sustainability and in extension the economy, it is pertinent to support its full implementation. One of Umahi’s arguments had been that except President Tinubu does something to address the procurement system in the Country, “his lofty intention to help this country may not be achieved.” It is important therefore, that all necessary support, hence be channelled to address the fund draining substandard road project construction syndrome which has become a snare of calamity on the country’s resources.
