Reps Suspends Move By Works Minister, Dave Umahi To Use Concrete For Road Construction

The House of Representatives on Thursday suspended a move by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to divert from asphalt to the use of concrete for construction of roads across Nigeria.

VerseNews reports that this is according to an Order Paper from the House obtained by People’s Gazette, after a member from Yobe State, Ms Khadija Bukar Ibrahim, proposed the suspension over growing concerns that the “use of rigid/cement concrete pavements” had “significant technical limitations and constraints.”

The lawmaker further noted that there was a “need to investigate the adoption of concrete technology for road construction in Nigeria” particularly its comparative advantages and disadvantages over asphalt which may alter technical specifications and breach contracts since there have been ongoing road projects before Umahi’s ministerial appointment.

Following the concerns raised by Ms Ibrahim, the House asked “the Federal Ministry of Works to suspend in the interim the wholesome adoption of cement concrete for road construction pending the outcome of the investigation.”

Recall that Umahi, former Governor of Ebonyi State who constructed most of the roads in Ebonyi State with concrete while in office, had in September boasted of enjoying President Bola Tinubu’s backing to adopt cement for road construction and asserted there was no “amount of gang up within and outside that is going to change this” in response to dissenting contractors.

But the House further mandated designated committees on works, environment, finance and judiciary to investigate the merits and demerits of using cement concrete for road construction and asphalt and report back within three weeks.