Reps decry deplorable state of Nigerians roads

By Christiana Ekpa

The Joint House Committees on Works, Environment, Finance, Justice, and Science & Technology yesterday during it’s Public Hearing on the Adoption of Concrete Technology for Road Construction in Nigeria, expressed displeasure over the deplorable state of Nigerians roads, even as the stakeholders differs on the submission for the construction .
Declaring the event open, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Tajudeen Abbas decried poor condition of some major road network across the country.
The speaker Who was represented at the occasion by the chief whip of the House, Hon Bello Kumo further revealed that road construction is very critical to the federal government ‘Renewed Hope Agenda”
Hon equally used the opportunity to commend the committees for organizing the public hearing , informing that the subject matter is of major concern to the 10th House of Representative otherwise called the” Peoples House.
Speaking further the Speaker charged all stakeholders to be open and speak out in order for the parliament to make an inform decisions.
He also urged for fair comments and upbiulding contributions aimed at assisting the house to make vibrant recommendations and suggestions for the purpose of improving quality of roads across the country.
Shortly after the Speaker’s address, the Chairman of the Joint Commitees, Hon Akin Alabi also spoke of deplorable state in the country even as he observed that work carried out by some contractors are not commiserate with the amount of fund they have received.
He reiterated the readiness of the House to be thorough over their mandates even as he advice members to be transparent and fair in it’s dealing with stakeholders.
He also spoke on the objectives of the public hearing emphasizing that it not meant to witch hunt any person or group of person but to get general views of Nigerians of what should constitute major materials for our road construction.
In his contributions, the Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers, Engr Saidu Hassan expressed expressed delight that his agency was invited for the public hearing by the Commitees informing that though his agency is not against the policy, it however, advice the parliament to subject it to scrutiny of highway stakeholders to ensure that appropriate engineering procedures and processes are strictly followed to allow for proper implementation strategies.
The agency also urged lawmakers to give the proposed concrete roads enough time required in order for the importation of new equipments and training of relevant manpower.
They agency also call for flexible contracts to be converted to rigid pavement adding that such will require the BPP to fix new state of concrete pavement, revise the contract sum and subsequently seek Federal Executive Council, FEC approval.
In his contributions, the Chairman Board of Trustees, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Engr Emeka Ezeh argued that since several factors come to play during road construction, such as amount of money, the contractors, the equipments etc, the role of the parliament should be to legislate but not to decide for those involved.
Engr Kuti representing the Ministry of works Said the use of concrete must be reconsider in view of harsh economic environment arising from fluctuating exchange rate in the country.
Earlier, Enger Ezeh who is also the former president NSE urged for careful consideration of factors such as quality control, adherence to standard, competency and experience of contractors among others while engaging in road constructions.
He informed that his society has for a very long time been engage in the road construction in the country adding that he attended the public hearing because of his high regards to the parliament.