In the 3rd week of September, 2020, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, Group Executive Director, Strategy, Portfolio Development, and Capital Projects-Dangote Industries Limited, appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to embrace concrete roads and use cement for the construction of its roads in Nigeria for the purpose of durability.
Edwin addressed a variety of media reporters during an interview, and said it will be to the benefit of Nigerians and even the FG to embrace the option of using concrete for roads in the country. He said, “We are pushing for Nigeria to [construct] a concrete road. It is cheaper to [construct] a concrete road that will last 50 years than a bitumen road. It will also help in eliminating corruption because if you build a bitumen road, it will have to be adequately maintained, unlike a concrete road that is very durable”. Edwin touted the benefits of concrete roads:
—Very inexpensive [in the longterm]
—More durable
—Maintenance cost is near zero
He further explained that concrete roads have a long life span, ranging to 50 years or more, compared to asphalt roads that barely last 10 or 12 years. Furthermore, unlike asphalt roads, a concrete road does not require frequent maintenance and patching.
According to Edwin, concrete roads also have the advantage of no deflection under the wheels of loaded/heavy trucks, therefor it consumes 15% to 20% fuel if compared to an asphalt road. It also has resistant to automobile fuel spillage and extreme weather.
Furthermore, according to the Dangote group, they have commenced the construction of concrete roads in various states across the Nigeria—particularly in Lagos, Bauchi, Kogi, Kaduna, and Ogun states.
A source in the Dangote Cement Company said, “We are very happy at the moment. We can categorically state that we are in more than 5 states across the country already constructing concrete roads. The reception has been wonderful! State governments are beginning to see the need to embrace concrete roads and we are very happy at the way things are currently going.”
During the Summit of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) held at the Transcorp Hilton, Eng. Mansur Ahmed, Executive Director-Dangote Group also urged the 3 tiers of the FG to embrace the use of concrete roads in Nigeria. He said concrete roads make more economic sense for a country like Nigeria, as the use of Asphalt has left the roads in deplorable conditions. Noting that asphalt road is no longer in vogue in developed climes, he said the construction of concrete road is faster and can last for half a century compared to Asphalt. According to him, in the construction of concrete roads, the cement raw materials are readily available, while Asphalt materials are imported into the country.
SEEFOR PROJECT:
The new State Employment and Employment For Result (SEEFOR) project are benefiting the roads in Nigeria as well. A Nigerian News Direct online article published on September 23, 2020 highlighted the SEEFOR project from Asaba, Nigeria. The World Bank, the European Union (EU) in collaboration with the Delta Government on Tuesday trained some beneficiaries of the State Employment and Employment For Result (SEEFOR) project.
They explained that since January 2019, the World Bank, the European Union (EU), in collaboration with the Delta Government, have trained some beneficiaries of the SEEFOR project. Mr. Barry Gbe, State Commissioner for Economic Planning, who was represented Dr. Alex Ighoro, Gbe’s Special Adviser, declared the training open in Asaba, Nigeria. It is also aimed at preparing the beneficiaries for the next phase of their lives after being engaged by SEEFOR for 12 months.
The coordinator said that sweeping of roads, construction of concrete pavements, laying of interlocking concrete and desilting of drains were carried out in the various LOTS by the beneficiaries.
Mr Parminder Brar, Team Leader for the project, said, “I am glad that NDDC is involved in repairs of roads – which I think a lot of good works have happened. The World Bank is happy to partner with NDDC.”
According to a report, part of the SEECOR project activity in the intervention areas in all the corridors of 55 Roads Maintenance is mainly for civic works aspect of the public works, which involve the following:
- Identified potholes will be cut to shape with cutter machine and cut area is reinforced. The area will be filled with Portland cement concrete (PCC). Drainages will be desilted, removing and replacing concrete cover slab during de-silting activity and spoil disposed to approve dumpsite.
- Another activity expected to be undertaken is reconstruction of collapsed drainage wall using the same materials and where pocket of holes exists, patch with concrete.
- Weeding and uprooting of shrubs and grasses from and outside the road shoulder will also take place in most of the intervention areas. The weeded and uprooted shrubs and grasses will be disposed of already existing dumpsite including scrap, sand/soil heaps to furnished pavement surface.
- Bullets 1 – 3 will be carried out by workers/beneficiaries with their PPE.
- These activities criss-cross most of the 55 Lots
For the Nigerian News Direct Online article titled “World Bank, EU, collaborate with Delta govt. on SEEFOR project”, please go to: https://nigeriannewsdirect.com/world-bank-eu-collaborate-with-delta-govt-on-seefor-project/
For the SEEFOR project document titled “ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP) Draft Report For PUBLIC WORKS – Road Maintenance (55 Lots) in Twenty-three Local Government Areas, Rivers State”, please go to: http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/ru/760001560751625867/pdf/Environmental-and-Social-Management-Plan-for-Public-Works-Road-Maintenance-55-Lots-in-Twenty-Three-Local-Government-Areas-Rivers-State.pdf
For the Proshare article titled “Embrace Concrete Roads for Durability, Dangote Urges FG“, please go to: www.proshareng.com/news/Transportation/Embrace-Concrete-Roads-for-Durability–Dangote-Urges-FG/53347
For the ISCP article titled “Nigerian Road Construction: Need for New Approach; Future Vision; Competition; Concrete Superior Choice”—on the September 21, 2020 REPORT titled “Roads: Concrete Vision, Asphalt Competition, Looking Ahead”, please go to: www.concretepavements.org/2020/11/15/nigeria-roads-new-construction-approach-vision-for-future-competition-concrete-superior-choice/