The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has raised serious concerns over the damaging practice of parking fuel tankers and other heavy-duty vehicles on newly constructed roads, warning that such actions pose a direct threat to the durability and lifespan of critical national infrastructure.
The Minister made this known during an inspection of the Aleto Bridge project in Rivers State at the weekend.
He emphasised that no road infrastructure is designed to withstand prolonged static loading from heavy vehicles.
“Yesterday I was passing through this road; the entire road we had completed was totally blocked… not by moving vehicles but fuel tankers; they were parked on the road.”
“No road project anywhere in the world is designed for static loads; they will destroy the road.”
The Minister, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Francis Nwaze, said that with the total project cost exceeding ₦230 billion—₦156 billion for phase one and ₦83 billion for phase two—such investments must be protected.
“Is that what we should fold our hands and allow to be destroyed?”
The Minister expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work being delivered by the contractor, RCC, while also commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his decisive intervention in sustaining the project.
“I want to thank RCC very highly and commend Mr President for his heart of love towards the Niger Delta,” the Minister stated.
He explained that although funding by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ceased in August 2025, the President promptly approved an alternative funding mechanism, ensuring that work continued uninterrupted.
“We are not owing RCC on this project… it is a very, very highly skilled and technical project, and I’m very happy with the quality of work.”
The Minister described the Aleto Bridge project as a landmark engineering effort, incorporating modern concrete pavement technology, solar-powered lighting, environmental landscaping, and reinforced structural features.
In line with the federal government’s commitment to human capital development, the Minister disclosed plans to integrate young Nigerian engineers into the project through a mentorship programme championed by President Tinubu.
“We are making efforts on President Tinubu’s mentorship programme, where young engineers will come and study what we’re doing here. They are our future leaders, and it is a technical project to behold.”
Providing an update on timelines, the Minister noted that one carriageway of the project is expected to be completed before 25 May 2026, with the first phase projected for full completion by August 2026.
“They have promised me that before 25 May 1, one carriageway of this very innovative construction will be completed, and before August, the first phase of this project will have been totally completed.”
He further expressed confidence that the second phase, which includes multiple flyovers and bridges, will be delivered within the year.
The Minister also highlighted the strategic redesign of the project from asphalt to concrete pavement, a decision directed by the President to ensure long-term durability.
“We inherited this project from the ground up. It was the President who directed that we should redesign it using concrete, and you can now see the result.”
The Honourable Minister concluded by calling on Nigerians, particularly road users and transport operators, to take collective responsibility for safeguarding public infrastructure.
“Let us protect our own. The Minister cannot be everywhere. The road is being done, and it is being done properly, but we have a duty to protect it.”
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