By John Alechenu, Abuja
The Minister of Works, David Umahi has ordered contractors handling the Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway Section III and Enugu – Lokpanta in Enugu State, to redesign failed portions of the road with concrete pavement.
Umahi gave the directive while inspecting the road project as part of activities marking the beginning of his South East road inspection tour scheduled to take place throughout the week starting from Tuesday 5th September – Saturday 9th September 2023.
The Director (Information) Press & Public Relations Unit of the Federal Ministry of Works, Lere-Adams Blessing, said this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
She explained that the minister reaffirmed that construction work on all federal roads must be done in line with specification to avoid a situation where contractors will be compelled to return and repeat an already completed job.
She quoted Umahi as saying, “We noticed a couple of failures in some completed and uncompleted sections, contractors must go back and amend them, I believe that bad asphalt resulted to the failure and we cannot take that”’
The Minister equally pointed out that some portions of the expressway inspected so far were in dire need of urgent and immediate attention and directed the Director in charge of the South East geo-political zone, Engr.Bede Obioha from the Ministry to come up with recommendations for the accomplishment of his directives.
Umahi said, “From Km 0+00 left hand side needed immediate attention up to Ozalla and should be amended on rigid pavement and the entire right hand side also must be on same rigid pavement, Director Highways south East take note.
The minister commended the contractors for the work done so far and encouraged them to continue to keep the pace and on the issue of finance, the Ministry will do their best to make sure fund is provided.
Earlier, the Director Highways South East, Engr.Bede Obioha briefed the Minister on the the level of progress so far made on the project while assuring him that all the recommendations cited will be corrected.
The Contractor, Messrs CGC Nigeria Limited on his part expressed gratitude to the Minister for visiting the site and promised to work on the failed portions but revealed that the challenge they have is paucity of funds as well as the rainy season, after which, he said the defects noticed on the failed portions shall be corrected .