Construction of modern roads: EBOMAF to conquer Benin

After Togo, EBOMAF set out to conquer neighbouring Benin: it was awarded lot 2 of the development and construction market for the Bodjecali-Madecali-Iloua-Frontière road of Nigeria, a 19.5 km section. It was in Malanville, seven hundred (700) kilometres from Cotonou, the capital, that the launch of its first construction site in the country of Thomas Yayi Boni took place on Monday 18 February.

Benin refers to EBOMAF for the development of its road infrastructure in the northern part of its territory. After having convinced on several large-scale construction sites in Togo, the Burkinabe society, Mahamadou Bonkoungou is asked by the Beninese government to develop and build 19.5 kilometres of the Bodjecali-Madecali-Iloua-Frontier Nigeria road over six (6) months. The works constitute lot 2 of an international tender. They concern the construction of a carriageway from mileage point 11.15 to 30.65.

The city of Malanville, seven hundred (700) kilometres from Cotonou, the capital, hosted, on Monday, 18 February 2013, the launch ceremony in the presence of Lambert Koty, Benin's Minister of Public Works and Transport and of an enthusiastic population by his mayor.

EBOMAF is responsible for transforming this track formerly considered as smuggling into a modern track, into a 7-metre-wide shoe with shoulderings ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 m in the countryside and agglomeration. A series of remediation works is planned throughout the route."Batch 2 from pk 11+150 to PK 30+650 includes the construction of general earthworks, the construction of hydraulic and sewerage works (dalots, sculpins, ditches, bordering), the construction of footwear and trimmings", explained the Director General of Public Works.

It is an area deemed difficult to erect civil engineering works. This has led to the choice of a well-known company such as EBOMAF whose know-how is now recognised throughout the sub-region. Malanville and its surroundings, located in the Sahelian zone, are characterized by a rainy season (June-September) and a dry season (October-May) Malanville, causing drought with its extremely high temperature and dust cracks as well as wintering with its torrential rains making the area impracticable.

Based on proven expertise

It is therefore a work of titan waiting for EBOMAF in northern Benin."19.5 km seems to be a small distance, but it is a project that requires financial and technical resources, which is very specific because of the rainy season that will be announced within a few months. A strategy has already been considered in this direction to complete the work within the six-month deadline."reassured Jean Claude Roche, Technical Director of EBOMAF, representing the President and Chief Executive Officer at the start of the project.

The opening of this building is already a source of joy for the inhabitants. They see this road project as an effort to improve their socio-economic situation. Beneficiaries are considered to be very large onion, chilli and tomato producers. The Malanville sandy region has been recognized since the dawn of time as a market gardening centre benefiting five countries with similar crops.

It is through it that the fruits of the land flow to Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Togo, and Burkina-Faso."The realization of this path was a dream. Today it has become a reality », rejoices Mr. Bako, Mayor of Malanville. Engineer of his state and former executive of the Beninese Ministry of Public Works, the mayor unanimously translated population expressed his satisfaction of or even this project entrusted to internationally renowned companies The future infrastructure will improve the mobility of men and boost trade.

As in Burkina Faso and Togo, EBOMAS is called upon to spread its expertise on an artery aimed at better sub-regional integration."With so much experience, I have no doubt that I can even get out of this track, an asphalt road which makes it easier to transport your agricultural products", stressed, Lambert Koty, Beninese Minister of Public Works and Transport. Pending the commercial impact, part of the population will be employed as technicians, manoeuvring, etc. Malanville and the surrounding villages will be able to curb youth unemployment. Topographic surveys have already determined the track's right-of-way. The search for materials continues. The company is ready to start work.

JE/AB