The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has announced the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to completing the East-West Road project in order to unlock the full economic potentials of communities in the South South geo-political zone.
Umahi made the announcement while on an on the spot assessment of the project sites at the sites at section II: Kaiama- Ahoada in Rivers/ Bayelsa State.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media), Orji Uchenna Orji, in Abuja, yesterday.
The Minister explained that the President Bola Tinubu-led Renewed Hope administration remains committed to giving all regions the requisite environment to attain their full economic potentials and guarantee a sense of self actualization through the provision of long lasting infrastructure especially roads.
According to him, President Tinubu has introduced a more formidable measure of construction to end pavement failures and years of infrastructural neglect on the East West Road.
Umahi project sites at East West Road section II: Kaiama- Ahoada in Rivers/ Bayelsa States; the construction of Multiple Box Culverts at flood damaged locations along the dualization of East West Road handled by Messrs Rock Results Nigeria Ltd and the dualization of East West Road, Section II ( sub section II) handled by SETRACO Nigeria Ltd dated 22nd July 2024.
Speaking shortly after the inspection of work progress, the minister said that Federal Government redesigned the inherited ongoing project, using reinforced concrete technology to end the perennial pavement failures and years of road neglect across the wetland Niger Delta.
He said some sections of the East-West Road starting from from Lokoja to Benin were also rescoped and redesigned in reinforced concrete, and that the height of the road was increased above the flood level, and that the redesign factored the peculiar environment, geomorphology and soil characteristics which were responsible for the failures of flexible pavement used over the years by successive administrations.
On the Kaiama-Ahoada section, Umahi said, “When we came on board, the job was already awarded by the past administration. And so the only new thing in all these locations under President Tinubu is the relief culverts that these two local contractors are putting, and are proving themselves to be of a very high reputation in terms of their works.
“We are encouraging many more local contractors to come and work, because there’s so much to work.”
He observed that the impact of climate change was largely responsible for the flood that came over the two sections of the road but commended the two contractors handling the relief culverts for their deep commitment to the intervention work despite having not been paid.
He further said, “…And so our directive is that the contractor shouldn’t open more relief culverts. Let us contain the floods by working with NDDC. And I commend the MD of NDDC for the fantastic work they are doing.”
He expressed gratitude to Rock Results, who also did emergency works, even though it’s outside the scope and the 29 Battalion with other paramilitary outfits for the management of the traffic which he said would continue for the next two to four weeks.
While appealing for patience on the side of the road users, he assured that permanent solution was underway as the project was being procured to raise the road above the flood level while reinforced concrete of 12 inches would be used to do the overlay.
The minister who also visited the KM 15 Section 3A of the East- West road (from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction) handled by Messrs RCC Nigeria Ltd, commended the quality of work being done but urged the contractor to re-mobilize at least in 6 sections of the project to ensure timely project delivery or be prepared to relinquish the other carriageway for award to another contractor.
Umahi said, “It is Presidential order that this road should be given the maximum attention, and that’s why he asked me to come and look at it, and then give him a report. So we’re looking at December for project delivery, but certainly not at the pace that RCC is going.”
While reacting to the statement credited to a Clergy, Buba Isa on the state of some federal roads, the Honourable Minister reiterated the commitment of the Renewed Hope administration in fixing all the inherited ongoing projects and backlogs of road infrastructure deficits nationwide orchestrated by many years of neglect.
While commdending President Tinubu for the glaring deference in road infrastructure under his administration which road users are attesting to, he called for patience and understanding as enduring solution to road failures had been reinvented by the administration and very soon Nigerians would enjoy sustainable infrastructure delivery.
