Works minister David Umahi has reiterated that concrete road pavement has been discovered to be more durable and cost-effective in constructing roads in some parts of the country.

The minister said this during a meeting with directors of the ministry, according to a statement by the works ministry’s spokeswoman, Blessing Lere-Adams.

The meeting was held for clarification on pavements built with concrete and asphalt.

Mr Umahi said there were a lot of advantages to using concrete in road construction, stressing that roads built with concrete could last for 50 years without having issues of portholes or washouts.

“Concrete roads have a longer lifespan. They can withstand heavy traffic loads and low maintenance and are less affected by temperature fluctuations. A lot of advantages accrue to the use of concrete to construct roads,” Mr Umahi explained. “Concrete roads last longer compared to asphalt roads, reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance. It is stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads. It also has low maintenance.”

Mr Umahi, however, stated that nobody insisted that all ongoing road construction in the nation be changed to concrete. He said such could happen under some conditions, including roads constructed with asphalt pavement must be on the concrete shoulder, with an alternative design on the road shoulder.

The minister added that some contractors were still working with obsolete and old machines. He encouraged the directors to come to him for any suggestion or logical argument, saying President Bola Tinubu’s government’s mission was to improve the road infrastructure across the nation for the good of all.

“I am appealing to our consciences to see ourselves as people going to the same direction and pursuing the same agenda for the betterment of all,” stated Mr Umahi. “All those in the field are the same with people in the office. Services in the office are what is keeping the services in the site.”

(NAN)