FG Bans Use Of Laterite For Road Construction

The Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has imposed a ban on the use of laterite as a base material in road construction.

VerseNews reports that the ban was announced by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during the inauguration of a committee overseeing the reconstruction of the Benin – Warri dual carriageway and the dualization of the East – West Road, Port Harcourt – Onne Port junction road in River State.

Contractors are directed to utilize lumps, sharp sand, and stone bases instead of laterite for road construction.

The ban on laterite is deemed necessary due to its limited load-bearing capacity and susceptibility to erosion and weathering, especially in regions with heavy rainfall.

The use of laterite can lead to road surface degradation over time, maintenance challenges, and a shorter lifespan for the roads.

Contractors failing to comply with these new standards will face sanctions.

The Minister emphasized the stability of contracts, ruling out variations (VOP) on contracts and urging contractors to ensure sustainability and durability in asphalt pavement projects.

The Ministry of Works will not seek additional funding from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) due to fluctuations in bitumen prices, and the ongoing projects will not exceed the allocated budget of N6 trillion.