President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstruction of the failed Ibadan axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using durable rigid concrete pavement technology.
The directive aims to provide a long-lasting, heavy-duty solution for one of Nigeria’s busiest interstate highways.
The Federal Government yesterday in Abuja confirmed that the recently completed Ibadan section of the highway had failed badly, deteriorating into a dangerous zone for motorists.
The Federal Ministry of Works, led by Senator Dave Umahi, was instructed to initiate immediate procurement for a complete rebuild using reinforced concrete pavement instead of traditional asphalt.
Alongside the reconstruction order, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a full business case to hand over the operation and maintenance of the entire expressway to Messrs Aspect Concession Limited.
The broader continuous upgrades along the corridor include finalizing uncompleted underpasses, flyover ramps, tolling infrastructure, and integrating solar-powered streetlights.
The Ministry of Works, Engineer David Umahi has adopted rigid concrete pavement as the new design standard for Nigeria’s major statutory economic corridors. While the upfront cost is higher, concrete roads are structurally designed to endure heavy axle loads from trucks and boast an estimated lifespan of up to 50 years with minimal maintenance.
The announcement of using conreate payvement technology however triggered mixed reactions from daily commuters and stakeholders:
Support: Many praise the shift to concrete, citing the legendary durability of similar projects like the Apapa-Oworonshoki expressway.
Critics express deep worry over a return of severe gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan corridor. Others argue that resources should instead be diverted to completely failed networks, such as the Lagos-Abeokuta Expresswa
