He said the country needs to improve on its maintenance culture of its road networks adding that the country builds good quality roads.
The Minister stated this at the 23rd meeting of the National Council on works in Abuja.
“Nigeria builds more quality roads which can stand the test of time only if If you go to other countries, they maintain even their bumpy roads. Our roads are smoother. We build to higher desired specifications. The missing link now is the final job,” he said.
Fashola who noted the importance of road signage said the Ministry has concluded plans to compile the list of roads where significant sections have been completed.
According to him, starting the process when the roads are still in there various stages of completion is economically viable.
“While our roads are still in various stages of completion, our economic needs compel us to refuse to wait until everything is done before we begin to confer the benefits of lane marking and street signage on our people.
“We have met in the Ministry and agreed to compile the list of roads where significant sections have been completed and prepare them for procurement and award of subcontracts in collaboration with our main contractors, and this procurement will then be advertised as required by law and subject to an open and competitive bids,” he said.
He added that:”as more sections of roads reach completion they will be subject to similar processes so we expect this to be continuous.”
The Minister further noted that although, many countries have developed maps to guide road users through road networks, the importance of road signs cannot be overemphasised.
He maintained that the use of maps alone do not achieve the purpose of guiding road users.
He said:”Long before the development of the Internet and proliferation of smart phones and apps, many countries have developed maps to help guide their citizens and transport infrastructure users through the ladyrinth of their network of roads.
“But these maps alone do not achieve the purpose without road signs, which indicates to road users how far their journey is, how far their journey is….sadly these signs are either non-existent or largely insufficient on our highways.
“The proliferation of global, country and state maps on the handheld devices therefore creates a compelling urgency on all of us to start developing and installing signage on our roads, bridges and highways at interstate and intra-state levels.
“This is one sure way of facilitating mobility and implementing the local components of the global urban agenda for the benefit of our people.”
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