The Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) has urged the National Assembly to intervene and provide lasting solutions to issues arising from the use of concrete and asphalt roads in the country.
Minister of Works, David Umahi reiterated the use of concrete pavement technology in road construction projects for its cost-effectiveness and durability.
NIHTE’s National Chairman, Engineer Hassan Saidu, made the appeal during a courtesy call to the Senate Committee on Works at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. Saidu emphasized the need for the Senate to intervene in providing lasting solutions regarding the use of asphalt and concrete roads, stating that both are important in road construction, depending on the topography of a particular area.
He expressed concern that converting ongoing asphaltic roads into concrete could lead to contractual disputes and litigation. Saidu urged the Senate to call on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to adhere to their mandates and contractual agreements on road construction across the country.
“We pray that MDAs should adhere to their mandate and contractual agreements. We urge the Senate to facilitate the presidential assent to the Road Sector Reform Bills (the Federal Road Authority and National Road Fund Bills), which would provide a sound governance structure based on sectorial professionalism as well as creating sustainable and robust funding for road development and maintenance in the country.
“As critical stakeholders in Highway and Transportation in Nigeria, the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers has made its input on the ongoing discussion on the use of Rigid and flexible pavements in Nigeria. Rigid pavements (concrete roads) are not totally strange in Nigeria as both flexible pavements (asphalt roads) and rigid pavements (concrete roads) have their advantages and disadvantages. Either of them should be used where it is necessary, and the choice of pavement should be based on engineering judgment,” he said.
In response, the Chairman Senate Committee on Works, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, stated that the Senate would review the Federal Government’s decision on the use of concrete roads. He added that the Committee would invite other stakeholders to deliberate on the issues at hand.
“The Committee has heard your prayers on the adoption of concrete pavement by the Federal Government. We may now officially invite you again with other stakeholders, those who have anything to do with highway and civil engineering, and in that case, we might come to a conclusion,” he said.
A member of the Committee and former governor of Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Daniel, commended NIHTE for bringing up the issues, which he said are of national importance.
“The Highway Engineers have raised vital and cogent points that require further consideration to address the issue, partnering to the issue on concrete roads and the use of asphalt roads. These important issues they have raised, and as an Engineer, I can tell you that we have asphalt plants all over the country, and if we suddenly decide that we don’t want asphalt roads, then what becomes of those plants which are quite huge.”
Another member of the Committee, Senator Hussaini Babangida, who is also a former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works, commended NIHTE for their act of patriotism, saying asphalt and concrete roads are good for Nigeria.
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