By Olakunle Oke
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a transition to reinforced concrete technology for nationwide road construction, promising that new projects will have a lifespan of 50 to 100 years.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the shift on Thursday, noting that traditional asphalt roads inherited by the current administration have frequently failed within a decade.
The Minister explained that concrete technology is specifically designed to withstand heavy-duty vehicular pressure and reduce the cycle of constant rehabilitation.
However, Umahi also issued a stern warning regarding the misuse of infrastructure, stating that heavy trucks parking on bridges pose a structural risk.
He clarified that bridges are engineered for moving traffic and cannot sustain the long-term static loads of stationary heavy vehicles.
The ministry highlighted critical threats to the Temelem and Kata Bridges, with the latter potentially requiring demolition due to extensive damage.
Umahi attributed the deterioration of these structures to illegal sand mining beneath bridge foundations.
By removing sand essential for skin friction piling support, miners have left the piles exposed to erosion and structural failure.
The government is currently implementing emergency measures to keep affected bridges operational for three years while permanent solutions are developed.
