The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to suspend in the interim the wholesome adoption of cement concrete for road construction pending the outcome of its investigation.
It also mandated its relevant Committees to investigate the merit and demerit of using cement concrete for road construction and asphalt and report back within three weeks for further legislative action.
The decision of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Khadija Ibrahim.
The lawmaker, while moving the motion said the federal government, through the Ministry of Works, has several ongoing road contracts across the country, including those awarded under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme (RITCS) Executive Order 007 Phase II by NNPC valued at over N1.4 trillion.
Ibrahim added that the Federal Executive Council approved the awards of the contracts to which the Federal Ministry of Works, Department of Highway (bridges and design), in preparation for the implementation of the project.
The lawmaker pointed out that a due process certificate of “No Objection” was granted by the Bureau of Public Procurement to the Federal Ministry of Works for the construction and rehabilitation of all the federal road projects.
Ibrahim stressed that the contractors submitted a Performance Guarantee of 10 per cent of the contract sum to secure successful project completion.
The lawmaker expressed concern that the contract agreements have strict liquidated damages clauses with the supervision and monitoring by the Ministry of Works to ensure that standard specifications are not compromised.
Ibrahim expressed concern that several studies have revealed that the use of rigid/cement concrete pavements in road construction has significant technical limitations and constraints.
“Worried that the Hon. Minister of Works’ new policy on cement concrete pavement adoption without in-depth studies of the comparative advantages/disadvantages with asphalt may contradict technical specifications, potentially leading to contract breaches and potential arbitration and litigations during a challenging economic time,” the lawmaker said.