Infrastructure: Minister insists on use of concrete for reconstruction of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

*H.E. (Sen.) Dave Umahi, Minister for Works, directs the contractor handling the reconstruction of the popular Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway with concrete pavement or nothing in order to address the perennial threat of water to asphalt pavement on the road project

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Ahead of the planned comprehensive reconstruction of the highway, H.E. (Sen.) Dave Umahi, Honourable Minister for Works, has directed the contractor handling the reconstruction of the popular Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway with concrete pavement or call it quits, to address the threat of water to asphalt pavement on the project.

Umahi gave the directive Tuesday, October 8, 2024, during an inspection of emergency repairs of a seven-kilometre stretch of the road within Lagos State, agency report said.

He noted that the Ogun State section of the road was already handled by the state government.

The Minister, a former Governor of Ebonyi State, stressed that concrete pavement would address the threat of water to asphalt pavement.

He also assured that the Federal Government soon would release funds for the completion of repairs of the remaining 11-kilometre stretch.

Senator Umahi, therefore, urged the contractor handling the emergency repairs to concentrate on deploying the stone basement and re-opening it to traffic.

According to him, due diligence is in progress for the comprehensive reconstruction of the expressway.

The Minister stated: “My recommendation for this road has been to use concrete, and it looks like the investor insisted on using asphalt.

“My coming here today has reinforced my belief, and my conviction that what we will use here will be concrete.

“If the investor will not use concrete, he should go out of the road.”

Speaking during the Minister’s inspection of emergency repairs of a section of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Tuesday, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, thanked Umahi for his interventions to bring succour to users of the expressway.

Mrs. Kesha noted: “Before now, this place was impassable. As I said in the news the last time, it was drum holes, not potholes, and it was impassable.

“With your directive, sir, the contractor moved to the site, and we can see that life is being restored to the highway.”