By Joyce Onuora
The Minister Of Works, Sen. Engr David Nweze Umahi, has come up with new policies to mitigate the poor pace of works and improve the service life of
Federal Roads.
Some of these policies according to the ministry are as follows:
▪ Introduction of construction of Rigid Pavements(Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement) as against the Flexible
Pavement (Bituminous), where appropriate, especially where there is high water levels and poor soilstructure;
▪ Reduction of the claims for Variation of Price (VOP) by Contractors, which has, consequently, saved government
money and reduced the incessant request for augmentation of project contracts;
▪ Removal of Consumer Price Index (CPI) from all contracts, thereby giving the government value for money spent on
the projects;
▪ Introduction of Uniform Pricing in each zone to ensure fair rates are utilized for procurement of projects;
▪ Enhance supervision of all on-going projects, which requires all field staffsto be on site;
▪ Introduction of Whistle Blowing on bad jobs by engaging stakeholders such as communities where the projects
traverse, road users etc to monitor works executed and report where poor quality works are being executed;
▪ Engaging in priority projects within economic corridors whose early completion will spur economic growth;
▪ Engaging in the completion of one carriageway before commencing the second carriageway for dualized projects;
▪ Sending Regional Directors/Special Projects Directors to the fields/sites to supervise project execution as well as
ensure quality and timely project completion.
Other policies introduced include:
▪ Engaging with the Ministry of Steel Development for the revitalization of the Light Section Mill of the Ajaokuta Steel
Company for the production of 7 million tons of iron rods for the Construction of Concrete;
▪ Review, redesign, and rescoping of critical projectsthat required immediate attention and funding;
▪ Establishment of the Renewed Hoped Infrastructure Development Fund to improve funding for critical Highway
Projects;
▪ Commencing the Second Phase of the Highway Development Management Initiative which will allow the Financing,
Construction and Management of some Federal Roads under the Public Private Partnership Scheme;
▪ Exposing subgrade, sub-base, and base course to 60 days vehicular movement and continuous sheep-foot rolling
before pavement placement;
▪ Sustenance of maintenance of all roads under construction throughout the lifespan of the project under contract;
▪ Effective design of road infrastructure anchored on detailed report of environmental site conditions (Environmental
Social Impact Assessment, ESIA) and geotechnical report;
▪ Creation of WhatsApp group to facilitate communication between top managementstaff;
▪ Getting the State Commissioners of Worksto validate on-going works before payment;
▪ Engagement of FERMA in emergency jobs in all the States within the limit of their funds.
According to Works Minister, noted that within one year in the office, ministry have made a difference in the road sector under the renewed hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
