The construction of concrete roads in Nigeria has began in earnest after Ashaka Cement Plc, a subsidiary of Lafarge Africa Plc and member of LafargeHolcim commenced early this week the construction of an 8km concrete road in Maiganga, Gombe State in Nigeria.

According to Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, Ashaka Cement PlcChairman, Board of Directors, the road project aims at contributing to the socio-economic development of Gombe State. The Concrete Road project is among the few project projects Lafarge Africa Plc has embarked on in the past few months.

Yahyah added that the company recognizes the need to address the significant social challenges of the state and the surrounding communities and have resolved to urge the government to put more efforts and build a greater Nigeria.

The Maiganga Concrete Road Construction project is one of such several projects Lafarge Africa Plc has embarked on in the past few months. With an estimate completion time frame of 12 months, the project has finally been awarded to a local contractor at a cost of US$3.5m with all preliminary work concluded to enable the company commence construction immediately.

Even though the choice of concrete in road construction is deliberate, LafargeHolcim has showcase its innovation capabilities as being experienced in other parts of the world and anticipate the benefits of the road project as enormous, with huge potential to boost economic, agricultural and social activities in the area.In September, 2015 Chairman of Dangote Cement, Aliko Dangote urged the federal government to embrace the use of concrete in road construction in the country.

“We are pushing for Nigeria to do a concrete road,” stated Aliko Dangote. Concrete road is cheaper with a 50 years life span compared to bitumen road. “It will also help in eliminating corruption because if you go and build a bitumen road, it will have to be adequately maintained unlike a concrete road that is very durable,” he added.

According to him, concrete roads are more durable with zero maintenance cost. The option of using concrete for roads in the country will be of benefits to Nigerians and even the Federal Government.