The Federal Government says it plans to transition from asphalt to concrete in the construction of highways across the country.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made the disclosure when
he led federal legislators and top government officials on a tour of a plant of
KAMSTEEL Integrated Company Limited in Jimba-Oja, Ifelodun local government
area of Kwara State.
The Minister said that 70 percent of federal highways are
being designed on concrete to elongate their lifespan after construction and
commissioning for public use.
He explained that over 70 percent of the roads under
construction in Nigeria now are moving from asphalt to concrete.
Umahi directed contractors working on the federal
government’s construction projects to patronise top-class local manufacturers
for construction materials.
He noted that the patronage of local manufacturers would
help provide jobs, generate revenue for the government, help minimise the
insatiable quest for foreign products at the expense of locally made materials
and in turn safeguard the nation’s currency.
He explained, “What we have seen here is a kind of what you
see in China and India, and we are so impressed with the massive scale clubbed
with modern technology used to produce international quality products. It is
something of great hope for Nigeria. Because in having a road with concrete, we
must reinforce technology, and you will see the multiplier effect.”
The Minister noted some asphalt roads don’t last more than
five years but with concrete technology and every raw material, every
ingredient of road pavement sourced locally, a great value for taxpayers’
money.
The Minister assured that they are going to support local
manufacturers and even get their presence and if need be, specify it in the
procurement for contractors to source materials locally to meet the highest
quality for the bridges.
Dr Kamoru Yusuf, the group managing director of KAM Holdings
Limited, who conducted the minister round the factory, said his firm is
determined to ensure standards in all its products.
According to him, his major preoccupation was for products
coming from the company to meet the international standard, adding that the
company’s prime product, Elephant TMT is export grade UKCARES certified product
being used for heavy construction activities like high-rise buildings, mega
bridges, dams and others.
He assured that they are determined to make the end users
have value for what they are paying for, and that is their mission in the
country, saying that they are very sure that any contractors that use their
products, always have good testimonies to say about them.
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