Umahi Commends Progress On South-West Road Projects, Orders Construction Adjustments During Inspections

OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has expressed strong satisfaction with the quality and pace of ongoing reconstruction works on key federal highways linking Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and Osun states, while issuing fresh directives to contractors and resident engineers to improve on road shoulder pilling and ensure timely delivery of the various projects..

The Minister spoke during an extensive inspection tour of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway (Section I), the Sagamu–Ore–Benin dual carriageway, and the Ibadan–Ilesa Expressway.

Briefing journalists at the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway project site, the Resident Engineer for Section 1, Engr. Aderanti Ogini, explained that the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the highway covers a 12-kilometre stretch on both carriageways from the Sagamu Interchange to Iperu Junction.

According to him, the project is being executed with rigid concrete pavement to enhance durability. He disclosed that the entire 12 kilometres of the right-hand carriageway has been completed, while eight kilometres have also been delivered on the left-hand side in line with the Minister’s directive.

“The pavement structure consists of a 200mm concrete slab placed on a cement-stabilised stone base, reinforced with 20mm longitudinal steel bars and 16mm transverse reinforcement,” Ogini said.

Also speaking, the Resident Engineer for the Sagamu–Ore–Benin dual carriageway, Engr. Adebanjo Adebisi, said the project begins from Iperu Junction and serves as a strategic link between Ogun State, Ondo State and the South-East corridor.

He explained that the 48-kilometre dual carriageway (96 kilometres total) is being reconstructed with rigid concrete pavement to address years of pavement failure associated with asphalt roads.

“The existing shoulders are being removed and rebuilt with a cement-stabilised stone base across the entire width—from outer shoulder through the carriageway to the inner shoulder—before the concrete pavement is laid,” Adebisi said.

He confirmed that 12 kilometres of rigid pavement have so far been completed on one carriageway, describing the pace of work as encouraging.

Addressing contractors and officials on site, Minister Umahi commended the quality of work executed so far, noting that over 50 per cent of work has been achieved despite only about 30 per cent of the contract sum—estimated at ₦187 billion—having been paid.

“I am very impressed with the quality and speed of work here. This is road construction, not road maintenance. What we are building here should last a minimum of 100 years,” the Minister said.

However, he issued firm instructions to correct design and execution issues observed during the inspection. He ordered that all rigid pavements must be properly protected with laterite shoulders extending at least 1.5 metres to prevent water infiltration and premature pavement failure.

He also directed that poorly executed medians be demolished and rebuilt to approved standards, stressing that any work done contrary to his instructions would be corrected at the contractor’s cost.

Umahi further ordered the immediate commencement of drainage works where necessary and insisted that solar-powered street lighting on the completed sections must be finished before the end of the month or reassigned to another contractor.

“The remaining two kilometres on this section should be completed shortly. By the end of the month, I expect the entire 24 kilometres here to be ready for commissioning,” he said.

“All remaining 96 kilometres must be milled so that Nigerians can breathe on this road. We cannot allow commuters to continue suffering while construction is ongoing,” Umahi added.

The Minister also inspected the 108-kilometre Ibadan–Ilesa Expressway, which was taken over from a previous contractor. He commended the Oyo State Government for completing about 5.1 kilometres on both carriageways, describing the quality as satisfactory despite minor issues that have since been corrected.

He announced plans to deploy multiple construction “gangs” simultaneously across different sections of the road to accelerate progress, warning that failure to comply with the new work schedule could lead to a reduction of the contractor’s scope.

“This job must move faster. If necessary, we will de-scope sections of the work. The President is determined to reclaim our roads, and we must deliver,” Umahi stated.

The Minister directed all resident engineers to formally document and sign off on instructions issued during site visits, stressing that compliance would be reviewed during subsequent inspections.

The inspection tour was attended b federal controllers of works from Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, senior ministry officials, and project managers.