By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has disclosed that a lot of malpractices had been perpetrated overtime by engineers in handling road projects in the country.
The Minister sated this Wednesday when
the executives of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), led by the President, Engr Azikiwe Onwualu, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja, according to a statement signed by the director, Information in the ministry, Olusola Abiola.
During the visit, the Minister, on behalf of the ministry, and NAE agreed on collaboration in the area of road construction and management in the interest of the development of the road sector in the country.
Applauding the collaboration, Sen. Umahi who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, said, “We have the same goal that will foster a strong collaboration and that is to have a better Nigeria.
“We would like to create a virile nation for the upcoming younger generation that is far better than we have met it. So we need this collaboration.”
While thanking the delegation for their commendation, Sen. Umahi said the performance of his ministry is informed by the charge of President Tinubu to the effect that Nigerians must get value for money by ensuring that good and quality roads be constructed across the country.
According to him, Mr President, after the swearing in the newly appointed ministers, charged the Minister of Works to ensure that not only Trunk A roads, but all federal roads are motorable and safe.
Speaking to the sharp practices observed on the part of some engineers in the construction industry, the Minister said, “Coming on board, we discovered that there were a lot of malpractices. We have discovered that a road which is constructed in other parts of the world would last 30 or 40 years, but it is not so in Nigeria. In Nigeria, it lasts at most 2 or 3 years.”
He observed that though the engineering methods are not different, yet the results are not the same. This is as a result of some malpractices carried out by the contractors.
The Minister however pledged to continue to deliver on President Tinubu’s mandate by ensuring that all roads are constructed to specifications.
“This will ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government is not only sustained, it would be seen to be working for Nigerians who deserve to reap the benefits of democracy.
“I want to use this opportunity to also urge the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and the executives to always talk to engineers at every forum. Please, talk to the engineers to have the country’s interest put first. It must be Nigeria first before any other thing.
“If the engineers insist that the right thing is done, the contractors must comply and then we will have a better Nigeria,” he stressed.
He noted that the mutual working relationship advocated by the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineers could not have come at a better time than now, assuring the delegation that “our doors are open”.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Engr Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, in his remarks, thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Sen. Umahi, an engineer, to run the ministry.
Congratulating the Honourable Minister, he said, “We are glad that he is running it very well. We have seen in recent months the excellent work the Honorable Minister is doing to rehabilitate the roads, and even to build new ones.”
Prof. Onwualu disclosed that the NAE was seeking partnership with the Ministry of Works in the areas of capacity building, technical advisory services, and policy formulation and implementation.
He urged the Minister to sustain the current tempo of road construction and maintenance until all federal roads are completed.