‘I Shed Tears For The Kind Of Pains Our People Are Going Through’- Dave Umahi Laments As He Reveals No Nigeria Federal Road Currently Can Last For More Than 7 Years

‘I Shed Tears For The Kind Of Pains Our People Are Going Through’- Dave Umahi Laments As He Reveals No Nigeria Federal Road Currently Can Last For More Than 7 Years

Written By Oshiobugie Omo-Ikirodah

The state of Nigeria’s federal roads is in the spotlight as Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, declares that the country’s existing federal roads have a meager lifespan of seven years. His proclamation comes in the wake of a nationwide road inspection tour, where the dire conditions of many roads were evident. Umahi noted that some of these roads had deteriorated so badly, they could best be described as “boreholes” rather than mere potholes.

Addressing contractors from across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones in Abuja, the minister didn’t mince words when expressing his disappointment with the subpar work executed over the years. “I shed tears for the kind of pains our people are going through,” he admitted.

Umahi also drew attention to the unscrupulous practices of contractors, accusing them of compromising road construction quality by using inferior materials. This, coupled with inflating project costs, is seen as an avenue to siphon funds, especially with the fluctuating international crude oil prices affecting asphalt costs.

Reflecting on his recent journey from Abuja to Benin City via Lokoja, Umahi recounted a harrowing 14-hour experience on the road. He criticized the state of infrastructure and questioned the rationale behind continually maintaining or reconstructing roads every decade, rather than providing durable solutions.

Umahi’s concerns are rooted in personal experience, as mandated by President Tinubu. The president instructed him to personally traverse these projects, gather first-hand insights, and provide unfiltered feedback. The minister emphasized, “President Tinubu said I must travel through all the projects so that I could brief him on my experience and tell him the truth.”

However, Umahi believes that tackling these challenges requires an overhaul of Nigeria’s procurement processes. He stressed the importance of speedy approvals, citing instances where vital documents languish with the Bureau of Public Procurement for months on end. This lag, he insists, impedes contractors from executing additional tasks they may be directed to undertake in the absence of backup authorization.

The revelations by Minister Umahi spotlight the urgency needed to address Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges, and the collective effort required from all stakeholders, including contractors, the government, and regulatory bodies.

Source: Bushradiogist