President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete pavement, marking a significant shift in the Federal Government's approach to building more durable road infrastructure.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the approval on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, saying the decision reinforces the ministry's commitment to replacing asphalt with reinforced concrete on major highways to ensure longer-lasting roads.

According to Umahi, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which spans about 135 kilometres across two carriageways, has begun to deteriorate despite being less than five years old and undergoing several maintenance interventions.

"The President approved yesterday the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan road, and that is the justification for our fight for the use of reinforced concrete pavement," Umahi said.

He explained that repeated repairs on the asphalt pavement had failed to provide a lasting solution.

"We took journalists there. We took members of the National Assembly there. You could see the road failing. They repaired it, and it still failed," he said.

Umahi maintained that rebuilding the expressway with reinforced concrete pavement would provide a maintenance-free road capable of lasting between 50 and 100 years.

The minister also disclosed that President Tinubu approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, expanding the strategic road corridor from about 700 kilometres to approximately 1,100 kilometres.

He said the new section would pass through Taraba State, enhancing connectivity between the North-Central and North-East regions of the country.

"The greatest story is that yesterday, President Bola Tinubu approved the addition of 400 kilometres to our Fourth Legacy road. That is unprecedented," Umahi said.

In addition, the President approved the completion of the abandoned Ibi Bridge project in Taraba State. The bridge, awarded in 2018, had reached about 40 percent completion before construction was halted.

"That bridge was awarded in 2018, got to about 40 percent completion and was abandoned. Yesterday, the President approved the review and completion of the Ibi Bridge in Taraba State," the minister stated.

Umahi further announced that Tinubu gave approval for the design, procurement and construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge across the Benue River in Taraba State.

"The Lau Bridge in Taraba State, which is 5.76 kilometres across the river, the President approved that it should be designed, procured and awarded," he said.

The minister also revealed that the President approved the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West road corridor from Lokoja to Benin, describing it as a major investment in the nation's transport infrastructure.

"The President also approved 400 kilometres of dualised East-West road running from Lokoja down to Benin. This is another very important intervention in our road infrastructure," Umahi added.

He said the approvals underscore the Federal Government's commitment to modernising Nigeria's road network, improving connectivity, facilitating trade and promoting long-term economic growth through resilient infrastructure.