Umahi to Tanker Drivers: Stop Destroying Nigerian Roads

Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, 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 direct threat to the durability and lifespan of critical national infrastructure.

The minister made this known during an inspection of the Aleto Bridge project, Rivers State, a statement in Abuja by his spokesman, Francis Nwaze, explained.

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 added.

With the total project cost exceeding N230 billion, that is, N156 billion for phase one and N83 billion for phase two, the minister stressed that such investments must be protected. 

The minister expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work being delivered by the contractor, RCC, while also commending President Bola Tinubu for his decisive intervention in sustaining the project.

He explained that although funding by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) ceased in August 2025, the President promptly approved an alternative funding mechanism, ensuring that work continued uninterrupted.

Umahi described the Aleto Bridge Project as a landmark engineering effort, incorporating modern concrete pavement technology, solar-powered lighting, environmental landscaping, and reinforced structural features.

In line with the federal government’s commitment to human capital development, the minister disclosed plans to integrate young Nigerian engineers into the project through a mentorship programme championed by Tinubu.