NEWS
Concrete Pavements and Tinubu’s Road Transformation Agenda
A good road network plays a vital role the social economic life of any nation.
By linking producers to markets, workers to jobs, students to school, and the sick to hospitals, roads are vital to any development agenda, says the World Bank.
Unfortunately, in spite of the efforts of different tiers of government to provide this important infrastructure, poorly maintained roads, be it Federal High Ways (Trunk A), state government roads (Trunk B) or local government ones (Trunk C) bad roads still dot the length and breadth of the country.
Successive administrations made efforts to fix the state of the nation’s road infrastructure but their attempts did not yielded the desired results.
One of the most audacious efforts to ensure a well maintained road network and construction of new ones in the country was through the Directorate of Food, Road and Rural Infrastructure of the then Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime.
The late Gen. Sani Abaja regime also had a special intervention fund, the Petroleum Trust Fund whose mandate also covered road repairs.
Perhaps what seems to be the most sustainable effort to that effect came in the shape of Federal Road Maintenance Agency.
The past administration of Muhammadu Buhari also had its own intervention plans through the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF); the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, Sukuk Fund.
There was also the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme in addition to other multilateral loans/grants and collaboration with other government agencies such as the North East Development Commission as well as the Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI).
The poor state of the roads which has defied these solutions has caused untold hardship to Nigerians as many met their untimely death as a result of avoidable accidents caused by failed portions of roads.
In some instances, criminals such as kidnappers and armed robbers take advantage of such portions to attack motorists.
According to media reports, in 2019, Nigeria ranked 191 out of 192 on deaths by road accidents in a World Health Organisation’s statistics.
The Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps says its operations have road accidents in the country, including bad road-induced one.
Road accident data for first six months of the year 2023, showed a total of 2,850 fatalities as against 3,375 in the same period in 2022, representing 15.5 per cent drop, according to Mr Bisi Kazeem, Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education, Federal Road Safety Corps.
One of the reasons advanced for the poor state of the roads is lack of durability. The President Bola Tinubu administration has promised to address this through the use of concrete pavement in road construction and repairs.
According to the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi concrete pavements have a 50-year guarantee, exposure of subgrade, sub-base and base course to 60 days vehicular movement and continuous sheep-foot rolling before requiring placement.
He assured that in adopting the initiative, there would be effective design of road infrastructure anchored on detailed report of environmental site conditions and geotechnical report.
Because of the faith the administration has in concrete pavement as a road construction option, Umahi further warned expatriate contractors that no shoddy job would be tolerated again in Nigeria.
“Concrete roads have a longer lifespan; it can withstand heavy traffic loads, low maintenance, less affected by temperature fluctuations.
“A lot of advantages accrue to the use of concrete to construct roads, concrete roads last longer, compared to asphalt roads, reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance.
“It is stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance,” Umahi said.
Umahi, however, stated that nobody was insisting that all ongoing road construction in the nation should be changed to concrete.
He said such could happen under some conditions, including roads constructed with asphalt pavement must be on concrete shoulder, with an alternative design on the road shoulder.
Mr Hassan Saidu, National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers, shares the same views as Umahi though with some caveats.
“Rigid pavements are not totally strange in Nigeria’s Highway practice. Both flexible pavements and rigid pavements have their advantages and disadvantage, adding both them should be used where it is absolutely necessary.
“The choice of pavement should be based on engineering judgement, at the moment there are about 2,604 road projects totally about 18,000km at a total cost of N14 trillion according to the minister of works.
“For such a number of projects to be truncated and suddenly converted to rigid pavement projects, there will certainly be floodgates of litigations by contractors on the violation of contractual agreements.
“The experiences garnered over asphalt plants and other items of equipment used for the construction of flexible pavements would be discarded and this will amount to huge loss to the country’’, he cautioned.
Saidu said the challenges face by road infrastructure in the country transcended the materials used in road construction and urged the Legislature and the Executive to ensure that Road Sector Reform Bill was signed into law.
The bill, he said provides a broader and more pragmatic solution to Nigeria’s road infrastructure deficiencies.
Mr Chukwudi Ezugu, the National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), in conscious of the cost of embarking on concrete pavement road construction and maintenance.
“If the load on the road is quite high concrete pavement would be preferable, it is also more durable but the cost is much higher but flexible pavement also has a life span of 20-25 years.
“So, basically there are some roads which are arterial for high traffic you may have to make that decision to do that investment.
“This will depend on the study, because there are experts that study each of this situation with the client agreeing based on the economies and its serviceability.
“Nothing is actually permanent so, if you have to do a project that has to last for 20 to 25 years, it is possible that after that, you may even like to restructure the project in itself, redesign for one thing or the other,’’ Ezugu said.
As the debate for concrete and asphalt roads continues many Nigerians say their desire is to have roads that are in good condition and would guarantee safety and ease of doing businesses. (NANFeatures)
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Chief Ajuri Ngelale has quit his job. He said in a statement in a Abuja that he would proceed on an ” indefinite leave, to deal with ” medical matters” affecting him amd hia immediate family.Hos statement reads: “On Friday, I submittd a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and family”
By David Torough, Abuja
About 1000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), on Saturday Faults President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.Expressing deep concerns over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.
The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review. The CCSOs in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as a death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country. “Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.
There is growing tension in Ugondu community, Makurdi LGA, Benue state by young people opposed to the demolition of houses and destruction of rice farms in the area allegedly on the directives of senior Air Force officer, Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele.
It was learnt that Commodore Ayodele, who is facing multiple legal actions following dispute over a plot of land located on George Akume Way Makurdi and owned in blatant disregard to the judicial process embarked on destruction of structures on the plot.
Eyewitness said when the equipment arrived no one imagined it was for destruction.
But in a militray- like operation, two flats of two units each, completely roofed, electrified and plumbing work completed were among the structures demolished as the bulldozers rolled over rice farms in the vicinity as well.
It was learnt that last year, a Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Mary Ijohor, granted an order of perpetual injunction, in the same matter, upon application by the supposed owner of the plot and awarded the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only, as cost. The matter, enforcement of fundamental rights, was marked as MHC/582/M/2023.
Godwin Akor whose rice farm was destroyed in a chat with newsmen said that he was shocked at the development. He however said he won’t speak more on the matter as it is still before the court.
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