The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is focused on building durable roads that will last for at least a century. He made this statement while defending the government’s decision to use concrete pavement technology for road construction across Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting major road projects — including the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway and section two of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway — Umahi said the government’s goal is to ensure long-term value for public infrastructure. He explained that concrete roads are far more durable and cost-effective over time than asphalt roads.

According to Umahi, “Show me any asphalt road in this country that has lasted 50 years. Even the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is already failing in some portions. 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.”

He emphasized that the new approach to road construction is part of President Tinubu’s long-term vision to end Nigeria’s recurring road maintenance crisis. Umahi added that while concrete roads may cost more initially, they require less maintenance and can withstand heavy traffic and harsh weather conditions.

The minister assured Nigerians that the federal government would maintain strict quality control on all ongoing projects to ensure durability and public satisfaction. He further noted that several contractors have already adopted the new technology in their ongoing works across the country.