By Chidiebere Ugwu
The Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nwaeze David Umahi has been briefed on the ongoing construction of the Lagos – Abidjan Highway initiated by Heads of States and Government of five ECOWAS Member States.
Clement Ezeorah, Assistant Director, Information, Federal Ministry of Works, in a statement, stated that the ECOWAS delegation led by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization Engr. Sediko Douka briefed the Minister in his office in Abuja.
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The Minister said that for ease of work and speedy completion, the highway project should have processes for its achievement like sectioning the project, considering the peculiarities of the areas across the corridor and also noting that some areas might be viable while some may not be.
“I think for ease of work and speedy completion, the project should be sectioned and put a process in place to make the project achievable because some section might be viable while some other sections might not be” He said.
Umahi underscores the importance of the highway project saying that the road project would propel rapid integration of the region, boast commercial activities, improve social development among member states.
He also advocated for the use of concrete pavement on the Nigerian corridor noting that there are a lot of advantages using concrete in road construction without having issues of portholes or washout, concrete roads have a longer lifespan, it can withstand heavy traffic loads, low maintenance, less affected by temperature fluctuations and that this has been adopted by the Nigerian government.
“A lot of advantages to use concrete to construct roads, concrete roads lasts longer compared to asphalt roads reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance, it’s stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance and this has been adopted by the Nigerian government” He said.
Umahi said that while adapting to feasibility result and technical studies, Nigeria would fast track the completion of her own section of the highway describing it as laudable and would enhance rapid growth.
“We should fast track the completion of our own section following the feasibility result and technical studies and design. A laudable project for rapid growth and development.
Earlier in his remarks, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Mr Sediko Douka thanked the Minister for granting them audience, noting that Africa’s economic integration is hampered by large deficits in its transportation infrastructure and thus the 2050 ECOWAS vision seek to enhance infrastructure development recognized as a factor for economic growth and integration of people that will greatly contribute to the creation of a regional environment favorable to the free movement of people and goods.
He said the 1,028 km road project was initiated by the Heads of States and Government of the Corridor Member States namely: Benin 128km, Cote d’Ivoire 155km, Ghana 576km, Nigeria 79.5km and Togo 89.2km in Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire on 28th February, 2013.
Douka added that the steering committee of the project is made up of the Ministers of Work of Corridor Member States and commissioner for Infrastructure of the ECOWAS Commission and the Minister is automatically a member. Their role he said is to provide oversight guidance for the implementation of the project and each of the Ministers reports back to their respective Head of Government.
Also speaking, the Director Infrastructure Department, ECOWAS, Engr, Malik Ashoke revealed that the link bridge between Nigeria and Cameroon has been completed and commissioned, nevertheless scanning machine and weigh bridges are yet to be put in place, and are therefore requesting that the Nigerian Minister of Works may graciously aid in obtaining FG directive for ease of clearance of the equipment from the wharf.
