Engineer Saidu Hassan, National Chairman of the Nigeria Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) and Managing Director / CEO of Bahago Services Limited, in this interview with OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, raises hope that today Government will completely utilize and carry out the arrangements of the Road Sector Reform Act, worrying that the Act can resolve the majority of the issues in the sector today. Excerpts: Kindly present yourself, what you do aside from being NIHTE President and for how long have you enjoyed the Highway building and construction service? I am Engr. Saidu Hassan FNSE, FNIHTE, National Chairman of the Nigeria Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE), a Division of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE). I am likewise the Managing Director / CEO of Bahago Services Limited. Our Company supplies Consultancy Services to both Government and Multilateral Organizations in Highway and Civil Engineering. How would you explain the state of Nigerian highways? I can state there is much to be anticipated in our highways. Nigeria is a big nation with the longest network of Roads compared to other nations in Africa. Roadway stats are not up to date, however we have about 36,000 kilometres of Federal Roads, 30,000 kilometres of State Roads, and 85,000 kilometres of Local Government Roads. It may intrigue you to keep in mind that the Federal Roads rollover 80% of the traffic. We had the finest network of Roads in the Sub-Sahara in Africa in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These Roads were permitted to degrade without intervention. Why are our highways in the present state they are, what elements are accountable for their present state? As mentioned above, absence of correct intervention and prompt action for the state has actually purchased us where we are today. Like all of us understand, we in Nigeria do not provide the essential attention to upkeep. Our upkeep culture in Nigeria is really bad. The required regular and routine upkeep are not continued our Roads as when due. Financing has actually been a significant obstacle in this regard. The majority of our Roads count on monetary allowances for their Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. Straining in regard of Axle loads is likewise a significant aspect adding to the bad state of our Roads. In the industrialized nations, heavy products are brought either by Rail or by Water. In Nigeria, where a Road is created for 30 metric heaps capability, many of our articulated automobiles surpass the limitation, in some cases even up to 60 metric lots and above. What are the socioeconomic ramifications of the state of these highways? I desire you to understand that there is a stating that states, the economy does not construct Roads, however the Roads develop the economy. In any human settlement, as soon as an excellent Road is supplied, you will discover a lot of financial activities springing up. Worths of lease, residential or commercial properties, and lease go up. I made the above example to highlight the value of Roads to any economy. Even today, the traders will inform you that high expense of products and services is as an outcome of high transport expenses. The ramification of the state of roadways to our economy can not be overstated. How can they be much better dealt with to satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians, making our roadways a source of nationwide pride? Federal governments have actually been attempting throughout the years to enhance the state of our Roads through Vision 2000, an extensive file by the Federal Ministry of Works to perform needed Reforms in the Road Sector. The Federal Road Maintenance Agency was likewise produced for this function. We have more interventions such as SUKUK, Credit Tax Schemes, to name a few. All these were structured to enhance our Roads. Today we hear Governments at all levels in the nation grumbling about absence of funds, impacting the quick advancement of our roadway networks, how can we conquer this, what ideas would you proffer to pool funds and sustainably too, aside monetary allowances, towards roadway building and construction? There is certainly scarceness of funds offered to the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA from The Federal Annual Budget to carry out Critical Road Projects efficient in resolving the bad state of Nigerian highways. It has actually constantly been the viewpoint of the Highway Experts that the option to the bad state of the network of Roads in Nigeria lies with the Reform of the Road Sector. The Road Sector Reform began with the facility of the WEY Commission in 1971, which advised reform in the Sector, this was followed by the Road Maintenance Initiative in 1991, which culminated in the Road Vision 2000 with suggestion in the Road Sector. In order to meet immediate requirements, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, was developed in 2002. The Act developed FERMA did rule out the entire cycle of preparation, style, building and upkeep. FERMA might not for that reason properly resolve the concern in the Road Sector. In 2012, the Road Sector Reform Committee was made up by the Ministry of Works and Committee, produced Road Sector Reform Bills and has actually been gone by the 8th and the 9th National Assembly. The Bills were not examined by the Previous Administration. The Bills are the Federal Road Authority and National Road Fund Bills. These expenses will offer a sound governance structure based upon sectorial professionalism. As producing sustainable and robust financing for roadway advancement and upkeep in the nation. How then do we guarantee stringent tracking of fund use and making sure that roadways are built to specs? The Reforms if executed will look after the majority of the issues consisting of the usage of funds. Personal Sectors will be included in the advancement of Roads Infrastructure, through Public Private Partnership (PPP). It’s the obligation of all Engineers to make sure that Specifications are abided by consistently. We in NIHTE have actually constantly made sure that our members act expertly. What would you state about the value and the overlook of Trunk C roadways expected to be the duty of Local Governments, how can they be called to account? The disregard of Trunk C roadways is really uneasy to state the least. Trunk C roadways are really crucial. These are the roadways that are expected to move our Agricultural Produce from the farms to the cities. The high expense of foods and loss of disposable items can be credited to the disregard of our Local Government Roads. The Financial Autonomy of city government is extremely crucial. This Autonomy will allow them to have funds to establish Trunk C Roads, if these roadways with the most protection get the necessary financing from the Federation, then Nigerians can hold them Responsible. It appears that Governments, particularly the Federal Government choose Foreign building business to their native equivalents. What’s your take on this and why do you believe the federal government should reconsider this position? Roadway facilities is extremely capital extensive. One needs a great deal of resources to sufficiently take part in Road building. Native business do not have these resources. The foreign business with assistance of their home Government control the market. Our Banks are not assisting matters. The foreign companies can get Plant / Equipment at a single digit rates of interest (In some cases, with moratorium). While our native companies are charged double digit, that is if they have the ability to protect the credit center in the very first location. Let me offer you an example. If you are bidding, they will state you require N5 billion– N10 billion Turnover. The number of native business will have that? The foreign companies can come with over N15 billion. Right from the beginning block, you are edged out. What’s your point of view on the position of the existing Minister of Works that we should utilize more concrete in the building and construction of our highways than asphalt, what are the ramifications in regards to expense, toughness and price? While the Institution of Highways and Transportation Engineers is not versus using concrete roadways, such a policy ought to have undergone the analysis of highway stakeholders to guarantee that the suitable engineering treatments and procedures are strictly followed, and appropriate execution methods embraced. Simply put, the adoption of any of the Highway pavement types is a function of Engineering science and economics. What’s NIHTE everything about, can you remember a few of its influence on roadway advancement in the nation and as the existing National President what have you or plan to accomplish in your period? The Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE), a Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is the umbrella body of all Highway and Transportation Engineers in Nigeria. The primary goals of the organization are to guarantee expert advancement through capability structure and arrangement of reliable advocacy for Highway advancement in Nigeria among others. We perform Local and International Workshops; Technical check outs to Roads Projects and making our inputs, observation and sharing of understanding; Participate in National Assembly in Technical Group sessions as it’s connected to Roads and Transportation, consisting of that of the National Council of Works and Research Institutes. We likewise take part in Career talks in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions and motivate Competition in schools. I wish to see NIHTE stay among the very best departments of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), while preserving the requirements laid by my predecessors.
Govt Should Fully Implement Road Sector Reform Act To Firm-Up Transportation Devt– Engr. Hassan
