LOKOJA-ABUJA ROAD: Umahi Orders RCC To "Reconstruct Failed Section of Lokoja-Abuja Road ..... Says Consultant to Supervise Road Construction Henceforth

Works Minister David Umahi & Director Highways, South-south, Engr C.A Ogbuagu with some management staff at the inspection of the dualization of Lokoja -Benin Road: Section III: Auchi-Ehor (Ewu Hill Spot) in Edo  State on the 17th September, 2023

“We must get a reputable consultant to supervise the road construction so that when the road fails, we can hold them accountable. Something must be done to change from the present situation of how we construct our roads. Our roads should be constructed on concrete." Umahi 

The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr David Nweze Umahi has continued his assessment tour of Nigeria's highways in order to find lasting solution.

The Minister, since his assumption of duty has embarked on several inspections across the regions and is currently touring the North-central and South-south geo-political zones of the country, a statement from Blessing Lere-Adams, the Director Information (Press and Public Relations), revealed.

During his inspection of Gada-Biyu Bridge bound 1 & 2 on the Lokoja-Abuja road, Umahi directed the RCC Contractor in charge of the construction work to reconstruct the failed section of the road that was earlier constructed by the company.

He said; "We have so many failed portions of the road and they have to go round and give me the list of failed portions of the road before returning to work to reconstruct them and, stone base must be used, not dust base."

The Minister said “We must get a reputable consultant to supervise the road construction so that when the road fails, we can hold them accountable. Something must be done to change from the present situation of how we construct our roads. Our roads should be constructed on concrete."

The Minister made this remark while inspecting Phase II of Lokoja-Okene road in Kogi State.

Similarly, Engr. Umahi has also directed that the Ministry should review the road works of CGC Construction Company and revert to his office within seven days, adding that, every road being constructed must have a consultant because majority of the jobs done have all failed because they were not built with concrete.

He told some of the road contractors of the construction sites visited that no one would increase contract price under him and a single lane must be followed to the end where the job is less than 50% on any ongoing dual carriageway under construction.

Some of the roads inspected on Sunday included the Dualisation of Abuja-Lokoja Road Section II, Sheda-Abaji; Gada Biyu bridge bound 1 & 2 Lokoja; Rehabilitation and Construction of Abuja-Lokoja Road; Lokoja-Benin Road; Okene-Auchi-Benin road (Kogi/Edo States ); Obajana Junction-Benin Road Section II; dualisation of Auchi-Ehor Section II Benin Way and Agbor-Ewu road project in Uromi, Edo State.