The Commissioner for Works, Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Kogi State, Engr Abdulmumin Alabi Sadiq has called for the reactivation of comatose road maintenance agencies in states across the country stating that by activating Kogi State Road Maintenance Agency (KGRMA), the government saved no less than 35% of cost of road maintenance in the state.
According to the Commissioner who is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, “roads construction can be contracted to contactors but states should be encouraged to empower their maintenance agencies to maintain the roads,” he said adding that the current economy calls for innovative measures that will cut cost while providing sustainable infrastructure for emerging cities in Nigeria.
Speaking at an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Abuja, the commissioner expressed the concern that “road infrastructure is very expensive,” and lamented that Nigeria has continued to suffer from bad tradition of road maintenance. According to the Engineer who wields over twenty-eight years cognate experience in civil engineering construction in Nigeria, “a lot of money is put into road construction but they fail to make provision for road maintenance,” stating that “road maintenance must start on the same day that the construction ends otherwise it will start falling into bad shape.”
The Yahaya Bello administration is fulfilling its pledge to provide roads and housing infrastructure to the electorate. He said despite limited funds, the KGRMA fixed the Lokoja – Okene road using palliative measures adding that the same strategy was adopted in the repairs carried out on the road network from Lokoja metropolis to the office of the Chief Judge of the state.
The State’s Road Maintenance Agency was also executed repairs as well as maintain Lokoja township roads, he added.
The Commissioner further expressed concern that “if maintenance is not commenced on a newly completed road, the road will begin to fall into a bad shape,” adding that once gone bad, repair will require twice the cost of maintenance.
Sadiq, who was Executive Director, Services, at the Lower Niger Basin Development Authority, Ilorin said: “When I assumed office, we discovered that the Kogi State Road Maintenance Agency did not have the equipment needed to function effectively.
But despite limited funds, we were able to reposition the agency by buying some needed equipment thereby saving 35% of what would have been part of contractual sum if we contracted out the repairs.
“We deployed our experienced and resourceful manpower, and we were not looking for profits and overheads.
Credit: Power Steering
