Umahi, minister of works, in a blue face cap, speaking with journalists during a project tour
Dave Umahi, minister of works, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is not merely constructing roads but building durable infrastructure designed to last a century.
Umahi spoke on Wednesday after inspecting ongoing reconstruction work on the Lagos–Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode–Benin expressway.
The minister said the use of concrete pavement technology in road construction would guarantee durability and deliver superior quality compared to asphalt.
“Show me any asphalt road in this country that has lasted 50 years. Even the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is already failing in some portions,” he said.
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“But the concrete road built in my state in the 1950s is still standing. We are not just constructing roads; we are building roads that will last over 100 years.”
The minister expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the reconstruction project, describing it as a model for the new standard of federal road infrastructure in the country.
He said the contractor had completed about 8.1 kilometres of one carriageway on the Sagamu-bound lane and is “working day and night” to meet the December deadline.
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“This project is an extension of the presidential infrastructure development fund (PIDF) initiative under President Tinubu’s administration,” Umahi said.
He directed the federal controller of works in Ogun to ensure that every completed five-kilometre stretch is opened to traffic after 21 days and properly maintained to ease movement and reduce travel stress.
Speaking on the aesthetics and safety components, the minister said the highway would include solar-powered streetlights, CCTV surveillance, rest areas, clinics, security posts, eateries, and other roadside facilities under the highway development and management initiative (HDMI).
“We are also introducing tree planting along the corridor for environmental beauty and protection,” he added.
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“By the first week of November, Nigerians should begin to see solar lighting installations and other features taking shape.”
Umahi reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the timely delivery of road projects, noting that Tinubu’s infrastructure agenda prioritises quality, safety, and long-term value.
He later inspected the ongoing repair work on the damaged flyover at Alapako village along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, as well as the construction work at Ojoo in Ibada, the Oyo state capital.
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