Minister promises commitment to road transformation

Mr Mike Onolememen
Minister of Works

Minister promises commitment to road transformation
Hauwa Anaja Abu, Abuja

As part of efforts to improve the road sector in Nigeria, the Ministry of Works has established 15 highways and Engineering Departments, and six zonal Highways Inspectorates.

The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, while inaugurating the highways inspectors in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital said the six zonal highways inspectors were to monitor road construction projects in all the six geo-political zones of the country.

The highways inspectors are to work with four other team members who are Engineers, and report findings from the states in each zone to the Ministry quarterly.

Enhancing Road Projects delivery

Mr Onolememen explained that the aim of creating the zonal inspectorates, for North East, West and Central, and South East, West and South South, was to enhance road project delivery, implementation, management and execution in the 36 states of the federation.

“In pursuance of the transformational agenda, and in furtherance of the on-going public service reforms, 15 highways and Engineering Departments have been created in the Ministry.

“The six zonal Highways Directors in charge of the six geo-political zones, are to operate from suitable state capitals within their zones for efficiency and effectiveness,” he said.

The Minister added that, it became pertinent to establish the zonal inspectorates, as the Minister alone could not supervise all on-going projects in the thirty six states of the federation.

Operational Guidelines

The zonal highways inspectors are to visit and inspect activities at all project sites in each state of each zone on a quarterly basis, visiting at least two states per month.

They are to also assess the quality of materials, and workmanship being used in the execution of the projects.

Road sector reforms

“The road sector reforms, formed part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation drive,” the Minister said.

The agenda, as it relates to the road sector states that, on-going highways projects would be completed, and that priority would be given to road projects for the network of federal roads.

It also says the inspection would be undertaken to ensure promptness and good quality of works being executed, and would help in the process of road management and financing reformation.

Williams