Nigerian Roads Are Not Properly Constructed -MD SETRACO

Mr. Michael Hachenberg, the Managing Director, SETRACO Nigeria Ltd., has decried the poor quality of Nigerian roads, saying they do not conform to international standard.

Speaking when members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Abuja chapter, led by its Chairman, Mr. Emeka Ozioko, paid a courtesy visit to the firm on Thursday, he said stakeholders in the construction industry needed to be further educated on the use of standard materials in the construction of roads and bridges.

He noted with regret the “unnecessary extension of contracts and execution of shoddy jobs by contractors” in the country.

Hachenberg urged the Federal Government to impose stiffer sanctions, such as the withdrawal of licenses and certificates of contractors or engineers involved in the shoddy execution of road projects.

He also appealed for the award of projects to only “capable and willing contractors,” who would work by specifications and deliver jobs on schedule.

“Contractors are fond of dragging a three-year project to between seven and 10 years. On several occasions, contracts being awarded to some companies are handled by non-contractors who were not involved in the deal initially.”

Hachenberg noted that cases of collapsed buildings and frequent road rehabilitations were as a result of the deployment of unqualified engineers to sites, which results in shoddy execution of jobs.

He urged the NSE and stakeholders in the construction industry to upscale their monitoring and supervisory roles in project execution.

Mr. Otis Anyaeji, the Vice-President, Nigerian Society of Engineers and Managing Director, Otis Engineering Nigeria Ltd, had earlier stressed the need for government to use professionals, especially engineers who were members of the society for the execution of projects.

He urged professionals and engineers in the construction industry to brace up to face the challenges facing the sector to ensure that quality jobs were delivered.

Anyaeji advised construction firms to ensure that only qualified professionals were engaged for project execution, stressing: “We cannot have a civil engineer where an electrical engineer is needed.”

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for giving approval for the recruitment of more than 500 engineers by the Federal Ministry of Works.

The Chairman of NSE, Mr. Emeka Ozioko, commended the firm for its enviable achievement in the construction industry, and solicited the support of its management in ensuring that stakeholders adhered to best practices in project execution.