Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, has dismissed the claims circulating round that the ongoing 86.43 kilometers expansion of the Ore-Ondo-Akure highway is being constructed with substantial materials and not in conformity with international specifications.
Umahi, who led the team from the Ministry to the ongoing road project last week Thursday, said; “the width of the road is a standard 7.3-meter main carriageway on each side, and we have 2.75 meters on the shoulder.”
BusinessDay reports that the recent viral videos and comments on the ongoing road had raised alarm over the use of wire mesh on the road’s outer shoulders, with some alleging that reinforcement bars ought to have been used instead—just like on the main carriageway.
But, Umahi, who spoke through the Federal Controller of Works in Ondo State, Olajide Hussein explained that the distinction is a standard global engineering practice dictated by the different structural and functional demands of both sections.
He said, “We also saw the viral video and the complainant specifically mentioned the use of wire mesh on the outer shoulders, suggesting that the same heavy reinforcement used on the carriageway should be applied there as well. But that’s a misconception. The main carriageway and the outer shoulder perform different functions, and so they are designed differently.”
According to him, the main carriageway, which carries heavy and continuous traffic from trucks, trailers, and articulated vehicles, is subjected to high bending and flexural stresses, hence the need for heavy reinforcement bars.
“To resist these forces and ensure long-term durability, 20mm longitudinal and 16mm transverse reinforcement bars are used on the main carriageway,” he explained. “But the outer shoulder is designed to handle only occasional traffic, like breakdowns, short stops, or diversions. Therefore, it doesn’t require the same level of reinforcement.”
He further clarified that the A142 wire mesh used on the outer shoulders is a standard and approved material, in line with Nigerian Highway Design Standards and global practices for rigid pavement construction.
“If you visit any of our single carriageway rigid pavement projects nationwide, you will find the same design pattern. It’s not peculiar to Ondo State or this particular project. The use of wire mesh on shoulders and reinforcement bars on carriageways is a universal highway design principle,” Umahi affirmed.
Umahi disclosed that the Ore–Ondo–Akure Road spans 86.43 kilometers with a 7.3-meter main carriageway and 2.75-meter shoulders on each side. Contrary to some public assumptions, he clarified that the project is not a dualization effort, but rather the reconstruction of a single carriageway with improved features, including fully paved shoulders for safety and traffic management.
“Before now, the road had no proper shoulders—only surface-dressed areas in a few spots. What we are doing now is building a modern, durable highway that meets global standards,” he said.
He added that the project, awarded in 2024 with a four-year completion period, is on schedule and might even be completed ahead of time due to the contractor’s commitment and adequate supervision by the Federal Ministry of Works.
