The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) has called on the Senate to adopt the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) harmonised axle load Supplementary Act for road sector reform in the country.
It also stressed the need for careful consideration, citing the dominance of flexible pavements in global road networks and the importance of maintaining existing equipment.
The Chairman of the Institute, Hassan Saidu, disclosed this Thursday in Abuja at the 2023 conference at the National Society of Engineers.
He also called on the Senate, to as a matter of urgency, facilitate the Presidential assent to the Road Sector Reform Bills with the view to addressing the existing constraints in the sector
The bills: Federal Road Authority and National Road Fund, he explained were aimed at establishing a robust governance structure and secure funding for sustainable road development and maintenance in Nigeria.
Saidu stressed the significance of these bills in addressing the current challenges faced in road management and funding.
His words: “We hereby recommend as follows: As a matter of urgency, we urge the Senate to facilitate the Presidential assent to the Road Sector Reform Bills with the view to addressing the existing constraints in the sector.
“The choice of pavement depends on the design criteria and available funds for initial construction.”
“We enjoin the Senate to adopt the ECOWAS harmonised axle load Supplementary Act; ACT/SP.17/02/12 relating to the harmonisation of standards and procedures for the control of dimensions, weight and axle load of goods and vehicle within member states of the Economic Community of West African States.”
