President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with reinforced concrete pavement.
David Umahi, minister of works, announced the approval on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja.
Umahi said the decision is in line with the ministry’s preference for reinforced concrete pavement over asphalt on major highways to ensure durability.
“The president approved yesterday the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan road, and that is the justification for our fight for the use of reinforced concrete pavement,” he said.
The minister said the existing asphalt pavement has repeatedly failed despite maintenance works.
“It is 135 kilometres by two carriageways. That project is not up to five years old, yet it has already started failing,” he said.
“We took journalists there. We took members of the national assembly there. You could see the road failing. They repaired it, and it still failed.
“The answer is to reconstruct it using reinforced concrete pavement that will last between 50 and 100 years, maintenance-free.”
The minister also relayed that Tinubu approved the extension of the fourth legacy highway by an additional 400 kilometres, increasing the strategic road corridor from about 700 kilometres to approximately 1,100 kilometres.
He said the new extension would pass through Taraba state, strengthening links between the north-central and north-east.
“The greatest story is that yesterday, President Bola Tinubu approved the addition of 400 kilometres to our Fourth Legacy road. That is unprecedented,” Umahi added.
The minister detailed that the president approved the completion of the abandoned Ibi bridge project in Taraba state, which was awarded in 2018 but stalled after reaching about 40 percent completion.
“That bridge was awarded in 2018, got to about 40 percent completion and was abandoned. Yesterday, the president approved the review and completion of the Ibi bridge in Taraba state,” he said.
Umahi also announced approval for the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau bridge across the Benue River.
“The Lau bridge in Taraba state, which is 5.76 kilometres across the river, the president approved that it should be designed, procured, and awarded,” he said.
The minister further shared that Tinubu approved the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West road corridor from Lokoja to Benin.
“The president also approved 400 kilometres of dualised East-West road running from Lokoja down to Benin. This is another very important intervention in our road infrastructure,” Umahi said.
He said the projects would improve connectivity, facilitate trade and strengthen road infrastructure across the country.