By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has given contractors and supervising officials three weeks to carry out urgent rehabilitation of failed sections of major federal highways across the country ahead of the forthcoming festive season.
Umahi issued the directive during a strategic meeting with the ministry's Coordinating Directors and Zonal Directors, where he stressed the need to prioritise road accessibility and safety over ongoing permanent construction activities.
According to a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed A. Ahmed, on Saturday, the minister directed all Zonal Directors, Federal Controllers of Works and Engineers' Representatives to intensify field supervision and ensure that major highways are made motorable within the next three weeks through immediate palliative interventions.
The minister expressed dissatisfaction with contractors who concentrate on permanent construction works while other sections of the same highways remain in deplorable conditions, warning that such practices would no longer be accepted.
He said the interventions should cover the removal of failed portions, filling of potholes and application of sharp sand, stone base, cement stabilisation, binder and wearing courses, depending on the condition of the roads.
Among the highways listed for urgent attention are Zaria–Funtua–Gusau–Sokoto, Mararaba–Keffi, Abuja–Lokoja, Kano–Katsina, Keffi–Makurdi, Makurdi–Enugu, East-West Road, Benin Bypass, Benin–Warri, Benin–Asaba, Warri–Oleh, Kano–Shuwarin and Bauchi–Gombe roads.
He also highlighted the need for immediate rehabilitation of Enugu–Port Harcourt, Enugu–Aba, Abakaliki–Enugu, Abakaliki–Gojia and Aba–Port Harcourt roads.
Umahi directed contractors handling the projects to work closely with the ministry's field officers and undertake necessary palliative measures, stressing that construction targets must not undermine the safety and convenience of road users.
He warned that contractors who failed to comply with the directive would be reported for appropriate sanctions.
The minister also tasked Zonal Directors with personally inspecting ongoing projects and submitting detailed reports on road conditions, work progress, challenges, contractors' commitments and outstanding interventions.
To strengthen monitoring, he ordered the establishment of a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which officials would submit real-time updates, including project locations, contractors, challenges and recommendations.
Umahi further disclosed that he would begin visits to the various zones from Monday to assess the level of compliance and evaluate the performance of supervising officers.
On roads requiring urgent attention but without contractors currently working on them, the minister directed the officials to report such cases immediately for necessary intervention.
He said emergencies involving bridges threatened by collapse and roads cut off by damage must not be delayed by bureaucratic procedures, assuring that the ministry would engage competent contractors and secure the necessary approvals and funding.
He also promised logistical support for the exercise, including accommodation, fuelling and vehicle hire where necessary.
To motivate officials, Umahi announced that zones recording outstanding performance in restoring the motorability of federal highways would receive special awards.
He reiterated the Federal Government's commitment, under President Bola Tinubu, to improving road infrastructure and reducing the hardship faced by Nigerians, particularly during the festive season and the early-year electoral period.
The minister urged all supervising officers to demonstrate commitment, urgency and accountability, insisting that there would be no excuse for failure.