The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, CON, has raised serious concerns over the damaging practice of parking fuel tankers and other heavy-duty vehicles on newly constructed roads, warning that such actions pose a direct threat to the durability and lifespan of critical national infrastructure.
The Minister made this known during an inspection of the Aleto Bridge project in Rivers State on Saturday, March 21, 2026, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nweze, on Sunday in Abuja.
“Yesterday, I was passing through this road and the entire stretch we have completed was totally blocked—not by moving vehicles, but by fuel tankers parked on the road,” Nweze quoted the Minister as saying.
He emphasised that no road infrastructure is designed to withstand prolonged static loading from heavy vehicles.
“No road project anywhere in the world is designed for static loads; they will destroy the road,” he said.
With the total project cost exceeding ₦230 billion—₦156 billion for phase one and ₦83 billion for phase two—the Minister stressed the need to safeguard such significant investments.
“Is that what we should fold our hands and allow to be destroyed?” he queried.
Umahi expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work being delivered by the contractor, RCC, while also commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his decisive intervention in sustaining the project.
“I want to commend RCC highly and thank Mr President for his commitment to the Niger Delta,” he said.
He explained that although funding by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ceased in August 2025, the President promptly approved an alternative funding mechanism, ensuring that work continued without interruption.
“We are not owing RCC on this project. It is a highly technical project, and I am very pleased with the quality of work,” he added.
The Minister described the Aleto Bridge project as a landmark engineering effort, featuring modern concrete pavement technology, solar-powered lighting, environmental landscaping, and reinforced structural components.
In line with the Federal Government’s commitment to human capital development, Umahi disclosed plans to integrate young Nigerian engineers into the project, through a mentorship programme championed by the President.
“We are making efforts under President Tinubu’s mentorship programme to bring in young engineers to understudy what we are doing here. They are our future leaders, and this is a technical project to behold,” he said.
Providing an update on timelines, the Minister noted that one carriageway of the project is expected to be completed before May 25, 2026, while the first phase is projected for completion by August 2026.
“They have assured me that one carriageway will be ready before May 25, and by August, the first phase of the project will be fully completed,” he stated.
He further expressed confidence that the second phase, which includes multiple flyovers and bridges, will also be delivered within the year.
The Minister highlighted the strategic redesign of the project from asphalt to concrete pavement—a decision directed by the President to ensure long-term durability.
“We inherited this project from the ground up. It was the President who directed that it be redesigned using concrete, and you can see the results,” he said.
Umahi concluded by calling on Nigerians, particularly road users and transport operators, to take collective responsibility in protecting public infrastructure.
“Let us protect what belongs to us. The Minister cannot be everywhere. The road is well constructed, but we all have a duty to preserve it,” he said.
