FG, COREN COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP NIGERIAN ROADS

Engr David Umahi, Works Minister, in white face cap and COREN Team, led by its President, Prof. (Engr) Sadiq Zubair Abubakar during a courtesy visit to him at the Ministry's HQters office at Mabushi Abuja.

"When growing up in engineering, we used to have consultants who would always know that if they compromised, their certificate of practice will be withdrawn even at the ministry level." Umahi.

"That is the kind of discipline we want to bring on our road infrastructure. There is no supervision in all our projects, like I said, other than the South West."

The Federal Ministry of Works under the able leadership of Engr. Nweze Dave Umahi MON, and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) have met to discuss the way forward to develop Nigerian roads.

Senator Engr David Nweze Umahi CON, representing the federal government,  presided over the meeting while the President and Chairman of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Engr Prof Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, FNSE led the engineering team to the meeting.

A statement issued and signed by Blessing Lere-Adams, Director Information (Press and Public Relations Unit) revealed that the deliberation was held at the Ministry of Works Headquarter in Mabushi, Abuja.

The Minister, in his remarks, said; "I want to involve COREN and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in our road construction. l have gone round three regions of Nigeria and I am very dissatisfied with the supervision of these construction works. It seems that it is only in the South West that there are very capable hands and hard working Directors and controllers."

"Notwithstanding, I will put the same template to use in all the regions," he said.

"We would like you to join us as COREN, there is no concrete road constructed in Ebonyi that has not lasted seven years. Our recommendation is that most of our highways are  going to be a continuous reinforced highways; this is the vision of the Ministry." He added.

"When growing up in engineering, we used to have consultants who would always know that if they compromised, their certificate of practice will be withdrawn even at the ministry level. That is the kind of discipline we want to bring on our road infrastructure. There is no supervision in all our projects, like I said, other than the South West." Umahi further said.

"Henceforth, every project is going to have one senior consultant. Later, we can begin to have other junior ones like surveyor, geotechnical and material engineers and other road engineers."

He enjoined COREN to join him in the propagation for the reintroduction of Concrete Pavement in Nigeria.

The Minister said that, "there is no road that was  built in this country had lasted more than three to four years even in the Northern part of Nigeria," noting that the roads in the South East are collapsing even while still under construction. 

"The design in the roads  are mostly built below the flood plain and, when the rains comes, they are washed away."

The Minister, in his words, said; "I have  counted 9 locations that have collapsed."

The COREN President, in his reaction said: "Having listened to you carefully, COREN and NSE will key into these new positions that you have mentioned. The lack of supervision you talked about, will be addressed and we believe that, that needs to change totally. We will be able to give our own contribution in that respect."

He said; "COREN has been restructured  and we now have six Regional offices, with Lagos as a special Region, and then the thirty six state offices with desk offices with seven departments. These  will play key roles in this supervision.

"We have developed a protocol to engage our members. l believe we are going to play a positive role when we develop modalities on how this will be worked out." The COREN president stated.

Speaking further, the Chairman of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Engr Prof Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, FNSE said: "ln the aspect of seven professionals per project, we are going to look at that and also contribute. On the introduction of reinforced concrete, there is a ministerial committee with this ministry which have been working on the specification. l am the chairman of that committee with senior experts along with the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FERMA and others. 

"In the next one month, we will make the submission and send an interim report to you. That should be the first point of engagement which will expand the horizon for us to this new agenda of Concrete Road Pavement," he said.