By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Authorities in Nigeria have slammed a ban on the use of laterite as a base in road construction, instead, directing contractors to henceforth use lumps, sharp sand and stone base to form the base before laying of concrete or asphalt pavement.
At the inauguration of committee for the supervision of the Reconstruction of Benin – Warri dual carriageway and the dualization of East – West Road, Port Harcourt – Onne Port junction road in River State, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi said laterite has a limited load bearing capacity, susceptible to erosion and weathering especially in areas with heavy rainfall.
This, he said, can lead to degradation of the road surface overtime, maintenance challenge and does not last long, the ministry’s Director (Information), Press and Public Relations, Lere-Adams Blessing said in a statement.
“We are giving very serious attention to the roads between Benin and Warri. The road between Eleme and Onne Port, we are mindful of the site conditions of these roads, the water conditions and the boreholes instead of pot holes on these roads.
“No more laterite, contractors are now to use lumps, sharp sand and stone base in place of laterite”, she quoted the Minister as saying.
The Minister also directed the newly inaugurated Road Taskforce Team to ensure a continuous maintenance of all the roads under construction until the end of the project.
According to the statement, “The committee must implement the contract agreement with maintenance culture as key. Committee members are to monitor the contractors closely to make sure things are done right.
“Our contractors can now understand that we are not insisting that things have to change without a reason, but that the society is demanding for sustainability and integrity of the work they are doing”.
Umahi disclosed that road infrastructure is one of the key factors for the revolution of our commerce, education, security and power in this country and that Mr. President is committed to our road infrastructure improvement and thus the Ministry is on a mission to uphold the renewed hope agenda of this administration on road infrastructure provision.
“I want to say that road infrastructure is one of the key factors for the revolution of our commerce, education, security and power in this country and Mr President is committed to our road infrastructure, so we are on a mission and we must take back our country”, he added.
