Economics of concrete roads underpins need for more govt investment

The economics of concrete roads pavement as reflected in their durability, safety, strength and cost-effectiveness in the long run underpins need for more governments’ investment in that type of roads infrastructure provision.

Concrete roads are exceptionally durable and mostly maintenance-free with expected life of 30 – 40 years compared to 2-15 years for bitumen or asphalt roads. Such roads are also easier to maintain, more eco-friendly and more economical in the long run as attested to by independent reports from multilateral organisations such as the World Bank.

The need for government to make the switch to concrete roads pavement arises from the pitfalls of other alternatives which have very high failure rate and short lifespan.

Available records show that Nigeria has the largest road network in West Africa and second largest in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The total road network in the country is estimated to be between 195,000 kilometres and 198,000 kilometres and about 2,627 kilometres of the roads are dualised.

Roads are owned by the three tiers of government in the country. Approximately 18 percent is by the federal government, 16 percent by the state governments while 66 percent is owned by local governments. The condition of these roads are so poor that only about 35 percent of the network is motorable.

This is why AG-Dangote Construction Company has called on governments at all levels to invest more in rigid pavement for road construction, emphasizing that concrete roads are more affordable, durable, safer and stronger.

Ahmed Mansur, Dangote Group’s executive director, stakeholders management and corporate communications, made that call at this year’s Engineering Assembly of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) with the theme, ‘The Nigerian built industry: Building a sustainable structure with allied professionals’.

Representative of the AG-Dangote at the event, Tunde Jimoh, pointed out, however, that the pavement type chosen depended on a number of factors, including expected traffic wheel loads, load repetition, cost of construction, and maintenance, among others.

He said the AG Dangote was constructing the longest concrete road in the country located in Kogi State. The road, known as Obajana-Kabba Road, is a 43-kilometre concrete road project due to be commissioned in December while another one, the 24km Itori-Ibese concrete road, has since been delivered.

Jimoh, who is the company’s project manager, said the firm would also be delivering the concrete dual carriage Apapa Wharf Road in Lagos this month.“This vision of the development of concrete roads in Africa is being shared by more leaders and governments. The implementation of concrete roads can revolutionise infrastructural development in Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” he assured.

CHUKA UROKO