Road Construction: Concrete Pavements Better Than Asphalt, Works Minister Umahi Insists

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi on Tuesday reiterated that concrete road pavement is far better, cheaper and will last longer than asphalt pavement in the construction of roads in some parts of the country, considering the terrain.

He stated this at a meeting with directors of the ministry, held for purposes of clarification by the minister that the use of concrete was not a cast in iron, a statement signed by the Director (Information), Press & Public Relations Unit, Blessing Lere-Adams stated.

At the meeting which took place at the ministry’s conference room on October 3, Umahi maintained that the use of concrete had been tested to be better than asphalt.

The minister noted that there were a lot of advantages using concrete in road construction, stressing that roads built with concrete can last for 50 years without having issues of potholes or washout.

In addition, he stated that concrete roads have a longer lifespan, can withstand heavy traffic loads, has low maintenance and is 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’s stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance,” he stated.

Umahi pointed out that nobody was insisting that all ongoing road construction in the nation should be changed to concrete but explained that it can only happen under certain conditions.

He stated that the conditions include that all roads constructed with asphalt pavement must be on concrete shoulder; must have alternative design on the road shoulder while there will be no shoulder on roads with surface dressing.

“Nobody is insisting that all ongoing jobs will be on concrete, but anyone that wants to continue with asphalt can continue under the following conditions: no shoulder on surface dressing, alternative design on shoulder, all roads of asphalt pavement must be on concrete shoulder,” he said.

He added that some of the contractors were still working with obsolete and old machines, while it was hard to get up to 50 per cent of needed machines and personnel to carry out the projects.

He encouraged the directors to feel free to come to him for any suggestion or logical arguments, saying that the mission of the Tinubu’s administration was to improve the road infrastructure across the nation for the good of all.

“I am appealing to our consciences to see ourselves as people going in the same direction and pursuing the same agenda for the betterment of all.  All those in the field are the same with people in the office.  Services in the office are what is keeping the services on site,” he told the directors.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

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