By Our correspondent
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has mandated the redesign of the Onitsha bypass for the 2nd Niger Bridge due to flaws and overestimation in the initial design.
He said the dumping of the initial design has saved the nation N300b.
This is as the minister directed contractors working on federal road projects in the Southeast and South-South regions to accelerate work while ensuring compliance with contract specifications.
In a statement by his media adviser, Uchenna Orji, the minister discovered the defective design of the 2nd Niger bridge bypass on Sunday, March 24, while on an inspection visit to the rehabilitation of Enugu- Port Harcourt dual carriageway section IV (Aba-Port Harcourt) undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC).
The minister was accompanied on the project tour by the Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, and leaders from various political backgrounds in the southeast, including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and former Senate president, Pius Anyim, as well as former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.
Umahi emphasized the non-negotiable commitment to constructing enduring road infrastructure with the most efficient design at minimal expense.
Umahi attributed his work ethic were some of the ideals in the Renewed Hope mantra under his Ministry including design and cost-effectiveness, speed and standard of job delivery as well as innovations that would guarantee zero maintenance and durability of road infrastructure in Nigeria, said, “And just only two days back, with these leaders, we went to Asaba to look at the design of the bypass of the second Niger bridge, and we went to Onitsha.
“By that singular movement, we saw that the design was defective and we agreed on a new kind of design.
“That was how we saved the country over N300b by that singular movement to that location”.
While giving a marching order to CCECC on its section of the road, Umahi said the contractors should always consider the sufferings of the road users as they set up their work plans, while urging them to ensure that the roads they are working on are made passable for commuters during the rainy season.
“We will not accept anything less than two to three sections working. And I’ve given seven days for this particular lane, that is, the upper bound lane to be totally repaired, to ameliorate the sufferings of the commuters.
“I feel for them very highly. When you go through this road, you now need to take a number of painkillers. It’s not desirable. So I’m begging CCECC, the controller, and engineers to do everything possible in the next seven days and create a smooth sail on this right-hand side”,he added.
The stakeholders from the southeast, who joined the Minister on the inspection tour, also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his decisive and confidence-inspiring measures aimed at revitalizing the country’s economy, with competent aides appointed to support him in this endeavour.
The former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh said: “I want to state clearly, publicly what I have seen in the past two days. In the last two days, I have witnessed things that I never knew were possible on the issue of road construction in Nigeria, especially on these roads. I’ve gone with the Honorable Minister. I have seen, I’ve been satisfied. I feel that it is a question of a round peg in a round hole.
