The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has ordered a temporary halt to work on the Ibadan–Ife–Ilesa road project, directing the contractor to review pavement mixture specifications at another project site before continuing.
Umahi issued the directive during an inspection of the Osun axis of the ongoing reconstruction, carried out alongside federal lawmakers and other stakeholders. The contractor handling the project is CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nigeria Limited.
He instructed the firm to slow down work on the carriageway and immediately deploy two separate teams to handle the inner and outer shoulders of the road.The minister stressed that proper execution of key sections of the road was critical, warning that failure to meet expected standards could lead to the removal of the Federal Controller of Works in Osun State.
Umahi also referenced earlier disciplinary actions within the ministry, stating that officials who fail to meet standards may be reassigned for further training before being returned to project sites.
He expressed dissatisfaction over a certified payment for palliative works valued at ₦2.8 billion, despite what he described as little or no visible work done on the affected section. He directed that the certificate be withdrawn within 24 hours and ordered the contractor to properly execute the palliative repairs.
The minister further instructed that all failed and cracked sections of the road be milled and properly reconstructed, including the application of binder to strengthen the pavement.
He also ordered the removal of heavy trucks parked on completed concrete sections, warning that such loads could cause internal structural damage to the road surface over time.
In addition, Umahi criticised ongoing installation of solar lighting on sections of the road, describing the timing as premature and insisting that such installations should only be done after completion of the main roadworks.
Despite the warnings, he commended the contractor for progress on the 108-kilometre project, noting that about 70 kilometres have already been completed at an average pace of one kilometre per day.
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