Chiejina advocates for use of rigid concrete for road construction

 

In the quest to support the advocacy the ministry of work is pursuing on quality and durable road construction, the Group Head, Corporate Communication, Dangote Group, Mr Anthony Chiejina, on Wednesday called on Nigerians, especially professionals in the built environment, to support advocacy for use of rigid pavements for road construction.

Chiejina made the call during the 2023 Annual Lecture and Awards organised by Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN), with the theme “Technology As The New Normal In Modern Infrastructure Delivery”.

Chiejina, while delivering a lecture on “Construction Using Rigid Pavement”, said rigid pavement construction was more durable with a life span of over 40 years.

He said “For new builds, overall duration of constructions could be shorter on account of the number of pavement layers and operations involved as well as weather (construction) windows.

“Resistant to fuel, oil, hydraulics, gear oil, grease and other chemicals (hence can be used in hardstanding areas and apron of airport; Lower maintenance costs, but initial capital outlay could be high; Cheaper in the long term; Lower maintenance costs, but initial capital outlay could be high; Cheaper in the long term; Requires skilled workers and offers good visibility at night due to concrete colour.”

He explained that rigid concrete, does not require frequent maintenance, hence road users are not usually inconvenienced.

From an environmental point of view, he said, the entire rigid pavement process is less polluting (aggregate extraction, cement production, etc.).

He stated further that environmental damage and cost are not as high compared to the entire flexible pavement process, therefore, less expensive when environmental costs and externalities are internalised.

“Not as rough as flexible pavement with passage of time.As its roughness is less, rigid pavement becomes less expensive than flexible pavement over time, when fuel cost of driving a vehicle and vehicle operating cost are factored in.

“Costs are linked to cement prices and reinforcing steel; cement is available locally and constitutes local currency component and not foreign currency component of construction cost. Impact on foreign exchange is comparatively less

“Recent research has produced rigid pavements with lower noise emission (than flexible pavements) when vehicles are driven over them,” he emphasized.

Chiejina applauded the minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi for introducing rigid pavements, adding that the minister was misunderstood in his good intention for quality road infrastructure delivery in Nigeria.

He pointed out that several people opposed to the use of concrete were not cement manufacturers, yet are crying foul that rigid road construction would cause an increase in cement prices.

He hinted that flexible pavement, also called asphalt road, might be cheaper to construct but on the long run more expensive due to regular maintenance from constant degeneration and from environmental standpoint, the entire flexible pavement process is more polluting.

The Group Head, Corporate Communication, Dangote Group charged the journalists, engineers and other built sector experts to explain the benefits of the rigid pavement to Nigerians, as the needed solutions to bridging road infrastructure deficit in the nation.

Chiejina, who received an award on behalf of the Dangote Group, commended PEWAN for the annual conference, aimed at setting an agenda for infrastructure development in Nigeria.

However, he lamented the poor reading culture threatening the real practice of journalism, urging practitioners to read widely to stay afloat and curb negative influence of social media.

He affirmed that the new media had increased proliferation and bastardisation of the profession such that disinformation and misinformation were on the rise, adding “Journalism under threat, siege.”

Earlier, chairperson of the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN), Mrs Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, said the annual lecture was recording landmark successes, proffering solutions to issues in the nation’s-built environment.

Iroegbu-Chikezie said PEWAN, a sub group under the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), had existed since 1995 with membership that cuts across print, electronic and online media platforms.

“The PEWAN Lecture and Awards is an avenue through which we the members of the pen pushing profession steer the direction of public discourse on construction matters and volatile environmental issues.

“The lecture has the objective of inspiring ideas and robust intellectual conversations on issues affecting the built environment and the nation’s economy,” she said.

The PEWAN award recipients at the event include: the Dangote Group; Mr Adedamola Kuti, Director, Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Works; Mr Kunle Awobodu, founder/inaugural President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG); Deacon Babajide Durojaiye, Managing Director, Legrande Group and Mr Festus Adebayo, CEO, Fesadeb Media Group.

Other awardee include: Mr John Beecroft, Managing Director, Tetramanor Ltd; Mr Emeka Anyiam, Chief Executive Officer, PWAN Elite; Mr Samuel Oni, Managing Director/CEO, Convvy Estates Ltd, among others who had made impact in the sector.