Reps Urge Work Ministry To Suspend Plan To Replace Asphalt With Concrete In Road Construction
…Say, It May Jeorpardise Existing Contracts Agreements.
The House of Representatives has called on the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi to adopt Concrete in roads construction without diligence as regards it’s suitability, adaptability in the country.
It also raised alarm over breach of existing roads contracts agreements and specifications reached with contractors.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Khadija Bukar Abba at the Plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the motion, she calls for investigation and urged the Federal Ministry of Works to suspend in the interim the adoption of cement concrete for road construction pending the outcome of the investigation.
She said, the Minister of Works’ new policy on cement concrete pavement adoption without in-depth studies of the comparative advantages/disadvantages with asphalt.
According to her, the policy may contradict technical specifications, potentially leading to contract breaches and potential arbitration and litigations during a challenging economic time.
She noted that, several studies have revealed that the use of rigid/cement concrete pavements in road construction has significant technical limitations and constraints.
She further informed that, the Federal Government has several ongoing road contracts across the country, including those awarded under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme (RITCS) Executive Order 007 Phase II by NNPC valued at over N1.4 trillion”.
The lawmaker said, “The Federal Executive Council approved the awards of the contracts to which the Federal Ministry of Works, Department of Highway (bridges and design), in preparation for the implementation of the project.
“A due process certificate of “No Objection” was granted by the Bureau of Public Procurement to the Federal Ministry of Works for the construction and rehabilitation of all the Federal road projects.
“The Contractors submitted a Performance Guarantee of 10% of the contract sum to secure successful project completion.
“The contract Agreements have strict liquidated damages Clauses with the supervision and monitoring by the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure that standard specifications are not compromised”.
The House adopted the motion and mandate the Committees on Works, Environment, Finance and Judiciary to investigate the merits and demerits of using cement concrete and Asphalt for road construction in the country.
