Minister of Works, David Umahi, has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is ending decades of substandard road construction in Nigeria by implementing durable, high-quality infrastructure projects designed to last up to a century.
Speaking during an inspection of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road project on Tuesday, Umahi said the Federal Government had adopted new engineering standards and technologies to ensure roads endure for 50 to 100 years without major repairs.
“For the past 30 years, roads have been built with poor methods, requiring constant repairs by successive administrations,” Umahi said. “President Tinubu is not just constructing roads — he is building roads that will stand the test of time.”
He criticized previous construction practices, particularly the use of fresh laterite in road rehabilitation, which he said compromised the strength of the sub-base and led to premature failures. Umahi cited the Californian Bearing Ratio (CBR) as a key metric for sub-base strength, noting that replacing consolidated layers with new material weakens the structure.
He explained that asphalt typically has a shelf life of 25 years, but the new approach on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway aims to extend durability to 50 years. Section 1 of the project, stretching from four kilometers into Kogi to Katari, is expected to be completed by February 2026.
Umahi revealed that the president has already paid over N120 billion for the first contract, which covers 118 kilometers — including 86 kilometers of concrete and 17 kilometers of wearing course in Kano. An additional 12 kilometers of dual carriageway has been completed in Kano, now being fitted with solar lighting.
Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, praised the commitment to timely delivery, noting that 285 pieces of equipment are deployed along the corridor to meet or beat the deadline.
