Umahi to Build Lagos-Abidjan Highway with Concrete

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has promised to ensure that the Nigerian section of the proposed Lagos -Abidjan Road will be built using concrete technology.

He also said that for ease of work and speedy completion, the highway project should be divided into sections.

The Assistant Director of Information, Clement Ezeorah, in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, said the minister stated this when he met with a delegation from the Economic Community Of West African States, led by the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka, in Abuja.

During the meeting, Umahi promised to fast-track the completion of the country’s 79.5-kilometre section of the highway while adapting to feasibility results and technical studies.

The PUNCH reports that the 1,028-kilometre road project was initiated by the Heads of State and Governments of the Corridor Member States namely: Benin 128 km, Cote d’Ivoire 155 km, Ghana 576km, Nigeria 79.5km and Togo 89.2km in Yamoussoukro, Cote D’Ivoire.

The former Ebonyi State governor, advocating the use of concrete pavement, stressed that the roads would be constructed without issues of portholes or washouts and could withstand heavy traffic loads, and low maintenance with a longer lifespan.

“There are a lot of advantages when using concrete to construct roads. Concrete roads last longer compared to asphalt roads and reduce the need for frequent repairs and maintenance. It is stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance and this has been adopted by the Nigerian government.

“Also, I think for ease of work and speedy completion, the project should be sectioned and put in a process to make the project achievable because some sections might be viable while some other sections might not be”, he said

According to the minister, the road project when completed would propel a rapid integration of the region, boost commercial activities, and improve social development among member states.

“We should fast-track the completion of our section following the feasibility result and technical studies and design. This is a laudable project for rapid growth and development,” Umahi said.

Earlier in his remarks, Douka noted that Africa’s economic integration was hampered by large deficits in its transportation infrastructure, and thus the 2050 ECOWAS vision sought to enhance infrastructure development and enable the free movement of people and goods in the region.

He added that the steering committee of the project was made up of the ministers of Works of Corridor Member States, the commissioner for Infrastructure of the ECOWAS Commission and the Minister.

Also speaking, the Director, Infrastructure Department, ECOWAS, Engr, Malik Ashoke, revealed the urgent need to instal scanning machines and weighbridges on the link bridge between Nigeria and Cameroon.