By Olatunde Ajayi
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ibadan Branch, has described the ongoing conversion of the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Expressway from asphalt to concrete pavement as a bold step towards achieving durable road infrastructure.
The Chairman of the branch, Mr Ayokunnu Ojedele, said this during a technical visit to the project site by members of the professional body on Friday.
The delegation comprised student members, graduate members, new inductees, regular members and fellows of the society.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was part of activities marking the 2026 Engineering Week of the NSE Ibadan Branch.
Ojedele said the decision to adopt rigid pavement for the expressway was in line with global best practices for high-traffic corridors, noting that concrete roads had longer lifespans and lower maintenance costs than flexible pavements.
“The Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Road is one of the busiest economic arteries in the South-West.
“For years, we have seen asphalt fail repeatedly under heavy truck loads and rainfall. This concrete conversion is, therefore, timely and strategic,” he said.
The NSE chairman said engineers had a duty to ensure that public funds were translated into infrastructure that would serve Nigerians for decades.
He added that the technical visit was aimed at exposing young engineers to modern construction methods and quality-control processes.
Ojedele urged the contractors to strictly adhere to specifications on mix design, joint spacing, reinforcement and curing to guarantee the durability of the road.
He also called on the government to involve professional bodies such as the NSE in project monitoring.
According to him, peer review by engineers would help check substandard work and ensure value for money.
Addressing student and graduate members, Ojedele said the project presented a rare learning opportunity.
“This is where theory meets practice. As future leaders of the profession, you must understand why we are moving from asphalt to concrete, the design considerations and the construction challenges,” he said.
He assured that the NSE Ibadan Branch would continue to engage the government and other stakeholders on infrastructure development and conduct more technical visits to expose members to evolving engineering solutions in the country.
The Project Supervisor, Mrs Esie Ogene of the Federal Ministry of Works, said the project covered 108.4 kilometres from the Iwo Road Junction in Ibadan to Ilesa in Osun.
Ogene said that due to concerns over durability, heavy traffic and population growth along the corridor, the Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, approved the switch to Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP).
She said the pavement was expected to last longer and require minimal repairs.
According to her, although concrete pavement was more expensive because of the cost of cement and reinforcement, it was more economical in the long run.
“The ministry expects at least 10 years before any maintenance, compared with asphalt, which requires repairs within three years,” she said.
Ogene maintained that the long-term benefits of durability, time and cost savings outweighed the challenges, making concrete the preferred option for strategic road projects.
NAN reports that the technical visit provided student and graduate members with an opportunity to ask questions, interact with engineers at the site and relate classroom knowledge to its practical application.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Victor Adeoti