FG, Academy of Engineering Partner on Road  Construction, Management

The Federal Ministry of Works and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) have agreed to collaborate in the area of road construction and management in the interest of the development of the road sector in the country.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, stated this when the executives of the NAE, led by the President,  Prof. Azikiwe Onwualu paid him a courtesy visit in his office  in Abuja.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Yakubu Kofarmata, said: “We have the same goal that will foster a strong collaboration and that is to have a better Nigeria.

“We would like to create a virile nation for the upcoming younger generation that is far better than we have met it. So we need this collaboration.”

Umahi said the performance of the ministry was informed by the charge of President Bola Tinubu to the effect that Nigerians must get value for money by ensuring that good and quality roads be constructed across the country.

“Mr. President, after the swearing-in of newly appointed ministers, charged the  Minister of Works to ensure that not only Trunk ‘A’ roads, but all federal roads are motorable and safe,” he further stated.

On the malpractices by some engineers in the construction industry, the  minister disclosed that the shelf life of some roads remains a major issue.

“Coming on board, we discovered that there were a lot of malpractices. One discovers that a road which is constructed in other parts of the world, which will last 30 or 40 years, is not so in Nigeria. In Nigeria, it lasts at least two or three years,” he lamented.