The minister of works, Mr David Umahi, has said that Nigerians would see more of concrete pavements on roads as it has longer lifespan than roads made of bitumen.
He stated this in Akure, Ondo State, during a courtesy visit to the acting governor of the state, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, while on inspection of federal roads in the south-west region.
Umahi declared that the ongoing Akure-Ado Ekiti Expressway would be redesigned and constructed with concrete rather than asphalt.
The former governor Eboyin State explained that concrete roads had been tested in several states and they have life span of 50 years, compared to asphalt roads that would wear off after 15 years.
The minister explained that any road construction contract that the job was not more than 20 per cent done would be redesigned to concrete pavement roads.
“A very important thing that I must let you know is the introduction of concrete technology in our roads.
“My argument is that you see a lot of roads that are built on concrete with a shelf life of 50years.
“But there is no asphalt road here, especially in south-south, southeast and southwest even if it’s done by top contractors will not last more than 15 years.
‘’You see jobs that are still ongoing, and that is why we are going round and then redesigning a portion of roads that are maybe 10 to 20 per cent completion and we are sure that this is the way to go and it has guarantee of 50 years.”
Responding, Aiyedatiwa, commended the minister for his zeal, stressing that most of the federal roads in the state were either dilapidated or poorly maintained.
He called for the dualisation of the Ore-Ondo-Akure Road and the need for the rehabilitation of Ore-Okitipupa axis among other federal roads in the state.
