The minister said this while speaking with correspondents at the presidential villa in Abuja on Tuesday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
This is as he also confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the construction of 18,897 kilometres of road totalling N14 trillion inherited from previous administrations.
The minister also said he has the backing of the President to forge ahead with his plan to adopt concrete technology in the construction of roads across the country.
“We are saying people should not construct roads on asphalt but if Nigerians are saying they should not have value for their money, that roads should be continued to be constructed every year, the same roads, that is very unfortunate. And that is what my ministry is fighting.
“We are ready, I’m very courageous to defend this.
“I learned there is a gang up by contractors but there is no going back and Mr. President is backing this position. We are offering an alternative. What is the alternative?
“The alternative is what high tech is doing in Lagos with Dangote. The alternative is for you to go to Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and see what they are doing on concrete.
“Every day you have over 500 static loads from the wharf loaded on that road, you will not see any crack. No asphalt work, no matter who did it can sustain that.
“So we are saying that concrete is very friendly with water and so we want you contractors to have an alternative.
“There is a catalyst in the use of concrete pavement. It will create jobs for our people. Everything about the construction is local. 10 manufacturers of cement have indicated interest in building cement factories. That is good for our economy. It will reduce pressure on the naira.”