Works Minister, David Umahi visits Kamsteel factory, applauds massive investment, promises FG’s supports

…says 70 per cent of our roads now designed on concrete

…directs contractors to patronize local top class manufacturers for materials against importation

The federal government said yesterday that it is transitioning from asphalt to concrete in the construction of highways across the country.

It also revealed that 70 per cent of federal highways are being designed on concrete with a view to elongating their lifespan after construction and commissioning for public use.

The Minister of Works, Senator Nweze David Umahi, disclosed this yesterday when he led federal legislators and top government officials on a tour of a plant of KAMSTEEL Integrated Company Ltd in Jimba-Oja, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

“If you think of all the roads we are constructing in Nigeria, we are moving from asphalt to concrete for over 70 per cent of our roads. In fact, all the roads we are designing now are being designed on concrete”, Umahi said.

The Minister, who was visibly elated with the magnitude of the plant and employment opportunities it has created, directed contractors working on the federal government’s construction projects to patronize top class local manufacturers for construction materials.

He further added, the patronage of local manufacturers would help in providing jobs, generate revenue for the government, help in minimizing the insatiable quest for foreign products at the expense of locally made materials and in turn safeguard the nation’s currency.

He said, “what we have seen here is a kind of what you see in China and India, and we are so impressed with the massive scale clubbed with modern technology used to produce International quality products, it is something of great hope for Nigeria. Because in having roads with concrete, we must reinforce technology, and you will see the multiplier effect.

“And so, it is going to be in line with the agenda of the man of hope, courage and destiny, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he has brought to us. A lot of our contractors are already using locally produced construction materials from what I have seen today, and also the files that my directors revealed, we have no hesitation by directing our contractors, almost all, to promote made in Nigeria construction materials.

In his words, we are doing asphalt road, some of our asphalt roads don’t last more than five years. And so with the concrete technology and with every raw material, every ingredient of road pavement sourced locally, a great value for taxpayers’ money.

“So, we are going to support local manufacturers and even get our presence. If need be, we will even specify it in our procurement for contractors to source materials locally so that we meet the highest quality for our bridges.”

The Group Managing Director of KAM Holding Limited, Dr Kamoru Yusuf, who conducted the Minister round the factory, said his firm is determined to ensure that its clients have value for they procure, product quality at affordable price and services are paramount to customer satisfaction.

Recalling how the plant was built, Yusuf noted that his major preoccupation was for products coming from the company to meet the international standard, Company’s Prime product *ELEPHANT TMT* is export grade UKCARES Certified product being used for Heavy Construction activities like high rise buildings, mega bridges, dams etc.

“We are determined to make the end users have value for what they are paying for, and that is our mission in the country. We are very sure that any contractors that use our products, they always have good testimonies to say about us”, the KAM Holding boss said.