The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is laying the groundwork for a new generation of durable highways expected to last between 50 and 100 years, signaling a decisive break from Nigeria’s legacy of poorly built and short-lived roads.
Speaking during an inspection of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway (Section I), Umahi said the ministry has adopted a modern construction approach that emphasizes durability, innovation, and cost-efficiency, moving away from the outdated “cut-and-fill” technique often blamed for the country’s recurring road failures.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, Umahi explained that the new design standards integrate recycling, milling, and concrete reinforcement, enabling the construction of highways resilient enough to handle heavy traffic and extreme weather for decades.
“We are building roads that will stand the test of time — roads that will last 50 to 100 years, conserve public funds, and drive economic growth,” Umahi affirmed.
“Our objective is to ensure that no part of our highways fails prematurely. Nigeria must abandon the habit of constant patching and reconstruction every few years,” Umahi stated.
He explained that the new construction technique focuses on recycling existing asphalt layers, which, according to him, are often more durable than freshly laid materials due to years of natural compaction from traffic.
“You can’t achieve a better California Bearing Ratio just by adding laterite to the road. The existing subgrade, strengthened over years of use, offers greater bearing capacity than a new one. That’s why we’re committed to milling, stabilising, and reinforcing the old asphalt instead of stripping it away and starting afresh,” he said.
