The Minister of Works, Senator Nweze David Umahi has directed that the failed portions of the Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway Section III: Enugu – Lokpanta in Enugu State be redesigned with concrete pavement.
Director (Information) Press & Public Relations Unit of the Ministry, Blessing Lere-Adams disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.
She said the Minister stated this at the inspection of the road which marks the beginning of his South East road inspection tour scheduled to take place throughout the week starting from Tuesday 5th September – Saturday 9th September 2023.
Umahi reaffirmed that construction work on the federal roads must be done right to avoid coming back to redo an already completed work, he commented on some portions where the binder wearing had been completed but has now failed:
“We noticed a couple of failures in some completed and uncompleted sections, contractors must go back and amend them, I believe that bad asphalt resulted in the failure and we cannot take that”, he said.
The Minister pointed out that some portions of the expressway inspected so far needed urgent and immediate attention and directed the Director in charge of the South East geo-political zone, Engr. Bede Obioha to come up with recommendations for the accomplishment of his directives.
“From Km 0+00 left-hand side needed immediate attention up to Ozalla and should be amended on rigid pavement and the entire right-hand side also must be on the same rigid pavement”, he said.
Umahi commended the contractor for the work done so far and encouraged them to continue to keep pace and on the issue of finance, the Ministry will do their best to make sure fund is provided.
Addressing the Minister earlier, the Director Highways South East, Engr. Bede Obioha briefed the Minister on the project and also assured him that all the recommendations cited shall be corrected.
The Contractor, Messrs CGC Nigeria Limited thanked the Minister for visiting the site and promised to work on the failed portions but revealed that the challenge they had was the paucity of funds as well as the rainy season, after which, the failed portions shall be corrected.
