The Federal Government says it plans to transition from asphalt to concrete in the construction of highways across the country.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made the disclosure when he led federal legislators and top government officials on a tour of a plant of KAMSTEEL Integrated Company Limited in Jimba-Oja, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State.
The Minister said that 70 percent of federal highways are being designed on concrete to elongate their lifespan after construction and commissioning for public use.
He explained that over 70 percent of the roads under construction in Nigeria now are moving from asphalt to concrete.
Umahi directed contractors working on the federal government’s construction projects to patronise top-class local manufacturers for construction materials.
He noted that the patronage of local manufacturers would help provide jobs, generate revenue for the government, help minimise the insatiable quest for foreign products at the expense of locally made materials and in turn safeguard the nation’s currency.
He explained, “What we have seen here is a kind of what you see in China and India, and we are so impressed with the massive scale clubbed with modern technology used to produce international quality products. It is something of great hope for Nigeria. Because in having a road with concrete, we must reinforce technology, and you will see the multiplier effect.”
The Minister noted some asphalt roads don’t last more than five years but with concrete technology and every raw material, every ingredient of road pavement sourced locally, a great value for taxpayers’ money.
The Minister assured that they are going to support local manufacturers and even get their presence and if need be, specify it in the procurement for contractors to source materials locally to meet the highest quality for the bridges.
Dr Kamoru Yusuf, the group managing director of KAM Holdings Limited, who conducted the minister round the factory, said his firm is determined to ensure standards in all its products.
According to him, his major preoccupation was for products coming from the company to meet the international standard, adding that the company’s prime product, Elephant TMT is export grade UKCARES certified product being used for heavy construction activities like high-rise buildings, mega bridges, dams and others.
He assured that they are determined to make the end users have value for what they are paying for, and that is their mission in the country, saying that they are very sure that any contractors that use their products, always have good testimonies to say about them.