The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed all Federal Controllers of Works to dismantle all speed calming devices/measures (speed breakers or bumps) on federal highways in their respective states.
The minister issued the directive during the opening of a two-day retreat organised for highways engineers and management staff of the works ministry.
The retreat held in Abuja was themed, “Ensuring Delivery of Mr President’s Agenda on Road Infrastructural Development.”
Umahi said while there was nothing wrong with installing such bumps, there should be approval and standard designs and specifications to guide such efforts.
The directive contained in a communique issued after the retreat read, “The minister has directed the enforcement of speed bumps removal nationwide in compliance with the directive of the National Assembly as well as stoppage of use of road shoulders for trading and drying wares.
“He directed all Federal Controllers of Works to dismantle all speed calming devices/measures (speed breakers or bumps) on federal highways in their respective states, and going forward there should be approval and standard design and specifications guiding such endeavours.”
Umahi also reiterated that a robust road network is vital for achieving food security, eradicating poverty, improving security, fostering economic growth, and creating jobs.
A statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, on Monday, outlined the government’s commitment to reconstructing and rehabilitating deteriorating highways across the country to strengthen road infrastructure.
According to Umahi, the current administration’s massive infrastructural development across the six geo-political zones is aimed at stimulating the economy and improving the quality of life for Nigerians.
The statement read in part: “One of the objectives of the retreat is to address lapses observed during the minister’s field visits to various project sites across the six geo-political zones.”
Umahi added that the retreat was designed to enhance service delivery, efficiency, and collaboration in delivering road projects nationwide, ensuring value for money on all government initiatives.
He encouraged participants, particularly the ministry’s supervisory staff, to maximise the retreat’s benefits to improve their technical capabilities, expressing optimism that it would enable them to support the delivery of the President’s eight-point agenda.
The minister compared the effects of poor roads to imprisoning citizens, as it hinders movement, and called on highway engineers to adopt internationally recommended engineering standards and practices to achieve the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He directed contractors to mobilise to project sites before requesting mobilisation fees. He also pledged to institutionalise capacity-building exercises for engineers to enhance service delivery.
In a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Olufunsho Adebiyi, thanked the ministers for their dedication and urged them to focus on improving service delivery in the road sector.
