The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi says no federal contractor will be forced to use concrete technology for road construction in the country.
He, however, maintained that contractors insisting on asphalt roads must sign an undertaking that the roads would last for at least thirty years, which is the designed shelf life.
He stated this today in Abuja during his maiden press briefing since assuming office.
This is coming barely a week after the minister had said no jobs would be given to any federal road contractors who resist the use of concrete technology.
He gave the reason for the shift in stance despite his preference for concrete for his shelf life to be because some contractors have already invested hugely financially in the purchase of asphalt for ongoing work.
“What we are saying to all contractors is that they have two choices to make. Choice number one, you must begin to do our roads according to the design which means that the life shelf design of our roads is 30 years, you must ensure that it last 30 years and you give us an indemnity to that.
“But verify from the design people, if it is not 30 years design shelf life, if it is 25 or 20 that is what will feature there in our letters to them for those who want to use asphalt. So, we are saying you have choices, if you already committed to asphalt and you must also commit to the durability of the roads without excuse.
“Indigenous contractors argue about price differentia, they could state the quality of price differentia based on output of contractors. Nobody is going to be force to do concrete roads; my own is that Nigerians must get value for their taxes, that we must minimize the sufferings of Nigerians,” Umahi said.
Credit: Channels Television
