By: Aanya Igomu, Abuja
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, is focused and reaffirms its commitment to building durable roads that would last 50 to 100 years.
The Minister of Works stated this during an inspection of ongoing works on the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna).
The Minister emphasised the Ministry’s focus on using materials that would ensure durability and longevity under any climatic or traffic condition to build the roads.
Explaining the methods used, Mr. Umahi said they are employing modern methods by ensuring the substructure of the road is strong.
“You cannot achieve a better California Bearing Ratio (CBR) by simply bringing laterite on the road. The existing subgrade, which has consolidated over years of traffic, has a stronger bearing capacity than a new one. That is why we are changing the approach — we are insisting on milling, stabilising, and strengthening, rather than removing old asphalt layers and replacing them with new materials.
“Wherever we have potholes within the carriageway, we don’t just patch. We treat the entire section using a stone base and, where necessary, stabilise it with cement. On the shoulders, we excavate about 10 centimeters below the existing asphalt, refill with a stone base slightly above the level, and compact properly. This ensures stability and prevents water from undermining the structure.
“Our design now prioritises rigid pavement (concrete roads) for major highways, while flexible pavements (asphaltic roads) are being phased out gradually. Where asphalt is used, we are introducing concrete shoulders to enhance strength and prevent failure. The goal is to ensure that no section of the road fails prematurely,” he explained.
The Minister praised the contractor for the quality of work done so far, noting that the project’s design is among the most advanced in the country.
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo also reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to building good roads in Nigeria and commended Mr. Umahi for his practical approach to carrying out the task of improving Nigerian roads.
The Contractor, Mr. Joseph Aboue Jaoude, stated that the company, Infiouest, has deployed about 300 units of equipment to the project to ensure efficient operations and the delivery of quality work within schedule.
Olusola Akintonde