INMC journalists urge DTSG to create legal frame work to guide road construction, maintenance

Journalists of the Indigenous Newspaper/Magazine Chapel (INMC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Asaba this morning called on the Delta state Government to create a legal frame work to guide road construction and maintenance in the state.

Chairman of the INMC, Comrade Bartholomew Ozah made the call when he led members of the chapel on a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye.

Ozah who acknowledged and commended the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration for the impressive efforts engaged so far that has led to the completion of more than 50 roads across the State within two years of the administration providing a legal frame work to guide construction and maintenance of roads, said such a legal frame work should be judiciously followed by the Ministry of Works and road construction firms in the state.

He observing that well constructed roads add to the aesthetic value of the environment, Comrade Ozah said: “The construction companies should be compelled to use approved international standard of bitumen and asphalt to construct roads so as to avoid unwanted and unwarranted pot holes on our roads.

“The telecommunication companies cutting the roads to lay their cables should be directed to use durable materials to cover the spot defaced. Often times, they are interested in cutting the roads into two without proper covering of the spot open. In turn, that gradually leads to heavy pot holes that threaten the movement of cars on our roads.”

Besides, Ozah also argued that if Delta State must have durable and beautiful roads, those in the project monitoring department of the Ministry should not compromise standards on road construction. “In fact, Delta deserves good roads no matter the geographical location. Often times, it has been said that it is difficult and expensive to construct roads in the Delta region thereby inflating contracts of construction of roads. But the truth is that real specifications are not followed. There are areas that have worst terrains than Delta State in Nigeria, yet have the best roads,” Comrade Ozah said.

In his response, the Works Commissioner, Chief James Augoye, with whom was the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Engr. Fred Edafavour,  expressed gratitude to the grassroots journalists for the visit, pointing out especially that as a government, the importance of community media cannot be over-emphasised because they are the media that are closed to the people.

He commended the INMC chairman for the mention given to some of the road works done by the Okowa administration, saying: “For you to have accurately enumerated some of these projects shows how well informed you are.

Augoye acknowledged the importance of a legal framework to guide road construction and maintenance in Delta State, but pointed out that indeed, there is need for legislation, which is what the state government is working on currently. “The legal frame work is very key. Outside agreement there is no other legal instrument to use to enforce compliance,” the commissioner said.

Augoye also explained that in the absence legislation that the government has put in place measures it currently uses to enforce compliance by contractors road construction and maintenance standards, and bring an end to failed road projects in the state.

Some of the measures are that all contractors must work according to specifications, and that the Ministry officials engage in periodic inspection of the roads under construction or maintenance. “I also visit sites,” he said.

Second, contractor are directed that before laterite is laid, lab test must be conducted on the type of soil being used at the University of Benin. “The contractor for the Ukwunzu road project actually went to UNIBEN to do the test. We decided that laterite should be mixed with sharp sand, and this has been working,” Augoye said.

Third, he said: “For defaults on any road project, we sanction our staff supervising the project and the contractor when we notice cracks on the first layer of laterite. The measures are helping us.”

Besides, Augoye also said revealed that even Governor Okowa has decided that he would not pay a contractor unless he has done satisfactory work.

For telecommunication companies cutting the roads he said measures are being taken against them, but pleaded with the journalists to help disseminate information to call attention to places where telecommunication companies are cutting through roads and distorting them.