The apex Igbo social-cultural group organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had declared its full support for the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on the use of cement technology for road construction, throughout the federation.
Ohaneze in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze, cautioned contractors allegedly threatening and calling for the Minister’s redeployment, to desist from the act, noting that it is aware of the grand conspiracies to blackmail Umahi by corrupt political contractors, to succumb to their bidding and terms.
The group, however, described those calling for the minister’s redeployment as corrupt contractors who are afraid of an engineer, who is ready to change the face of the ministry.
The statement reads partly: “The assessments tours of the Hon Minister to the sites brought to light the level of unprofessional and unsatisfactory execution of some road projects across the country.
“Nigerians are happy with Senator Umahi and will drag any corrupt contractors found doing substandard works to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for proper action and investigations.”
The group that supports the use of cement for road construction in the Southeast and other parts of the country disclosed that the era of fraudulent and over-inflated contracts is over, as whoever fights corruption should expect corruption will fight back.
According to the group, Nigerians are aware of the importance and durability of building good roads with concrete technology over asphalt, warned that most of the contractors handling road projects, especially in the Southeast, must abide by the new regulation, noting that the region has been at the receiving end of road construction in the country.
However, it mandated that the federal highways in the Southeast region of the country should wear a new look with the construction of roads with cement and concrete technology henceforth.
The group however, called on Ndigbo to report any ongoing road project in the Southeast where the contractor is disobeying the new directives of using cement and concrete technology, vowing not to hesitate to take proper action against any contractor found wanting in this regard.
