Polycarp Sola -Abakaliki
Senator David Nweze Umahi, the minister of works, said today that his ministry has abolished surface dressing as well as the issue of price variations by contractors to improve the quality of infrastructure in the country.
Umahi stated this while addressing the permanent secretaries and commissioners of works of the 36 states and the representative of the federal capital territory at the 29th meeting of the council of works in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital.
He maintained that the move was to consolidate the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu in improving the road network across the country and complete abandoned projects, particularly those within the economic zones.
“I commend the presence of the director of the ministry of works for rewriting the history of the ministry. There is a need for stakeholders to work together to turn around the sector and facilitate the access of Nigerians to roads for economic prosperity and national unity.
“It is our responsibility to improve the state of our roads. Mr. President is not deterred; he is committed to working on abandoned projects, especially those within the economic zone.
“We have abolished surface dressing in the ministry of works. Within one or three months after you complete the road, the surface starts failing. We also abolish the variation of price in the ministry of works. On the issue of mobilization, we have come up with a condition for mobilization.
“People take mobilization and run. There is a need for training and re-training of our supervisors. It is important. The gains of this conference will be seen in our radical progress in road infrastructure,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Ebonyi State, R.t. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, said while declaring the meeting open that it would address the issues relating to contract deficits and ensure timely execution of contracts.
He said, “The National Council on Works has drawn a road map for the sustainable development of projects. It is a commitment of our dear President towards addressing the defects on our roads.
“I thank Mr. President and Senator David Umahi for the national emergency on our roads. Our minister is operating on familiar terrain. He gave us the best road network and opened up our rural communities.
“The entire state is receiving infrastructural attention. This is because the quality of infrastructure is needed for sustainable development. Works is the tripod on which other sectors are hinged. We have completed 700 kilometers of roads across the state.
Speaking earlier, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Works, Stanley Lebechi, who appreciated stakeholders in the works sector, assured of the judicious use of resolutions that will be reached at the end of the meeting.