Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister Hon. Eng Charles Milupi is impressed with the quality standard of concrete roads being constructed by the Dangote Group of companies after the Minister toured some concrete roads under construction in Lagos, Nigeria.
The company is reconstructing the Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway which is 34km road leading to Apapa Port along the Atlantic Ocean. More than 4,000 trucks and tankers use the road everyday carrying different merchandise to and from the port.
“Truly from what we have seen and the explanation given by the Site Engineer, the road is of good quality and is poised to last long. We can replicate this in Zambia considering that we can source all materials required locally to construct concrete roads. The number of trucks using our roads has increased and we need to position our roads to meet this increase in the volume of trucks and tankers”.
Eng. Milupi was speaking when he met Mr. Aliko Dangote, Chairman and President of the Dangote Group of Companies in Lagos, Nigeria in the company of Mrs. Waicha Ndhlovu Yambala, Chief Executive Officer of National Housing Authority, Mr. Mabuchi Chilembo, Director Housing Development and Mr. Aaron Mutale, Chief Planner in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, where he is attending the 42nd Annual General Meeting and Symposium of Shelter Afrique.
Hon Milupi has requested Dangote Group of Companies to consider providing technical support to Zambia as it does some concrete roads in heavy trucks and tankers prone areas.
And Mr. Aliko Dangote, Chairman and President of the Dangote Group of Companies has encouraged Zambia to switch from bituminous to concrete roads especially those roads with heavy traffic of trucks and tankers. Mr. Dangote said constructing concrete roads is cheaper in the long term as the maintenance costs are minimal. The concrete roads last for more than 40 to 50 years with minimal maintenance costs if done properly
“The benefits of concrete roads are that you use local materials that are readily available in Zambia. The only thing you import are the equipment and machineries. Do concrete roads through concession and toll them to recoup the investment”.
Mr. Dangote also expressed willingness to cooperate with the Zambian Government in the provision of mass and affordable housing. And in response, the Head of the National Housing Authority (NHA), Mrs. Waicha Ndhlovu Yambala, said the Authority would be grateful if the Group could sell cement in bulk directly to NHA to facilitate mass housing development as this would reduce the cost of construction significantly, which in turn would reduce the cost of the final product to the consumer. Mr. Dangote said the Group would be happy to partner with the NHA in the provision of cement as well as in the development of decent and mass affordable housing.
The Minister has since concluded his visit to Nigeria and returns home on Sunday14th May, 2023.
