Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced the discontinuation of surface dressing on the country’s roads, citing it as a major contributor to their rapid deterioration.
According to Umahi, surface dressing allows water to penetrate the asphalt within just two months of completion, leading to premature failure.
He made this announcement during the 29th National Council on Works meeting in Abakaliki, themed “Unlocking Infrastructural Potentials and Opportunities for Sustainable Development.”
Umahi also expressed gratitude to Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, for hosting the gathering of 36 commissioners and permanent secretaries from the Ministry of Works.
The move aims to improve the durability and quality of Nigeria’s roads.
He said that the Ministry has equally banned the evaluation of variation of price of materials.
The minister described high cost of projects as a major factor working against the improvement of infrastructure in the country.
While faulting project delays, he admonished contractors to be diligent in improving road infrastructure and added that the time is ripe for the engineers to do things differently.
Responding, the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru said the government has completed 700-kilometres of roads across the state.
