From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi to immediately interface with major cement manufacturers in the country over rising price of cement.
Speaking to newsmen at the weekend, after inspecting the ongoing rehabilitation of East-West Road, Umahi disclosed that the president was seriously concerned with the current situation of cement price.
“Some are still selling at N10,000 while some sell N12,000 and so on and so forth.
“So it’s not healthy for us. So Mr. President has directed we interface with them, look at their problems, and then see who is ripping off Nigerians and see how we can help them—–the transporters and the manufacturers”he said.
While commending the level of work on the East-West Road, he informed that the job of the ministry is to encourage the contractor to do a good job according to design and according to the expectation of Nigerians.
On the need to expedite work on the project, the minister said:
“There is an increase in the number of sections that we are working on, because of how urgent this job is. We should have more sections. They have opened about five sections. We should have almost all the sections being worked upon.”he said
Regarding the percentage of work done by the contractor, the minister praised the contractor, saying he has done a good job.
” If we get all the quality jobs like this, then I’ll go to sleep, because this is the major” he said
According to the minister, the foundation of every structure is more important than the structure itself.
“So, we are more interested in getting this done.
“When this is done, to lay the concrete is not going to be difficult at all. But this is the most difficult” he noted, assuring that the coming of rains should not be a stumbling block to the progress of work” Umahi remarked.
In a statement, the minister used the opportunity to reiterate that the tax credit scheme is still continuing.
Earlier, the minister had attended Senator Barinada Mpigi’s thanksgiving service held in his hometown, Okoroma in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State. Senator Mpigi represents South-East senatorial zone of Rivers State in the senate.