Nigeria News reported that Engr. Fidelis Kings Nweze(mnse), the Honorable Ebonyi Commissioner for Works and Transport in Ebonyi, Nigeria, Africa, recommended concrete base and rigid concrete pavement as best solution for road construction, especially in South-East Nigeria. Nweze is a native of Ezza South local government of Ebonyi state Nigeria and obtained his Civil Engineering degree from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu. Previously, he worked as the Senior Civil Engineer (Maintenance and Training) in the Civil Engineering Department-Ebonyi State Ministry of Works and Transport, Abakaliki.
Nweze made the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in November 2018, in Abakaliki, Nigeria. He said that roads constructed with concrete base and concrete rigid pavement were more durable and last 50 years longer than those built with asphalt.
The commissioner attributed the poor state of roads in the South-Eastern part of the country to poor soil type, adding that the problem could be solved by constructing roads on concrete base and rigid pavement. He explained that road constructed with concrete bases and rigid pavement could help to save a lot money for the government which could be channeled such to other developmental projects improve the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner, therefore, implored all road contractors in the country, particularly in the South-East region to emulate the Ebonyi government in the construction of roads that stood the test of time. He noted that most roads within the urban and rural areas, including federal roads, were constructed, with the use of concrete base and concrete rigid pavement.
Nweze said, “Concrete-base and concrete-rigid pavements are the best method for road construction, especially in South-East region where the volume of rainfall is very high. Concrete-base and rigid pavements involve the use of cement in road building and this method guarantees the longevity of roads for up to 50 years. We promised that we would construct 15-kilometre roads in each of the 13 local government areas when we assumed office, we have constructed 15-kilometre rigid pavement and surpassed the number in some LGAs. We have constructed and rehabilitated most of our urban and rural roads, including federal roads, using concrete base and rigid pavement.”
“We have been able to achieve 75% of the roads within the capital city and we are not yet done; road construction is a continuous process. We monitor our road projects to ensure that contractors handling them comply with the contract specifications.’’
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