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.
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