The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N679b, to facilitate 13 road rehabilitation and new construction of road infrastructure across the country.
These approvals include rescoping, variation, and fresh contracts targeted at ensuring infrastructure development as aligned with available funds.
Addressing State House Correspondents after the council meeting chaired by President BolaTinubu, the Minister of Works David Umahi highlighted the details of the contracts, identifying the need to prioritise existing projects.
Among the approvals, the Aakalari-Ukuk Road in Bauchi State received a phased completion approach, with Phase One set for six months at N11.278 billion.
Similarly, the Uturu-Isikwato-Akara Road in Abia State will undergo a phased execution, with Phase One estimated at N5.926 billion for completion in six months.
A major new project involves the construction of a road from Zaria through Ukui to Kolomani, Dan Bali, Maraba, Kanya, Subawa, and Kasa in Kaduna and Katsina States.
The contract, valued at N198 billion, has been awarded to MotherCat Nigeria Limited for a 36-month construction period.
Another notable award is the rehabilitation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, specifically a section previously terminated from Dantata Sowo.
The contract, now reassigned to Tractor Nigeria Limited, will run for 18 months at a cost of N128.395 billion.
In Kebbi State, the 57-kilometer Bagudu Road project was approved for N2.645 billion, ensuring ongoing works are protected from damage.
Similarly, the Obanewi-Arisizogu-Okiwe Road in Imo and Anambra States will see a six-month rescoping at a cost of N8.45 billion for Phase One.
A correction was made regarding the Enyi-Ilawi-Ekiti Road project, initially approved for N13.736 billion.
Upon discovering an error in the earlier presentation, the Ministry sought FEC’s approval for the correct amount of N15.626 billion, which was granted.
Additional contracts include:
“ Ilogu Road in Kwara/Osun States – N7.556 billion for Phase One (six-month duration).
“Wukari-Akwana Road in Taraba State – N12.615 billion (12-month duration).
“Bida-Lapaya-Lambda Road in Niger State – N39.493 billion for Phase One (six-month duration).
“Gada-Zamazuru-Gamji Road in Kebbi State – N11.976 billion (six-month duration).
“ Kamakish Road in Oyo State – N12.35 billion (12-month duration).
Umahi stressed that FEC directed the Ministry to prioritise inherited projects, ensuring funds are utilised effectively.
He underscored the importance of protecting existing infrastructure, particularly roads with binder courses that could be damaged by rainfall.
Also the council granted approval for the adjustment in the Outer Marina Shore Protection Project in Lagos, which initially excluded certain federal institutions.
The contract sum has now increased from N144 billion to N176 billion to cover additional shoreline protection for the Nigerian Navy and other federal infrastructure in the area.
The Minister also disclosed that the council considered a review of the Charm-Numan Road and Bridge project, which was severely impacted by flooding in October 2024.
The revised contract was approved, ensuring the bridge’s completion.
Finally, the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road dualization is set to progress in phases, with the first phase awarded N30 billion to CGC Nigeria Limited.
The Minister restated the federal government’s commitment to infrastructure development, noting that all projects are being executed within budgetary allocations to ensure timely completion.
“And let me say that the directive of Federal Executive Council is to ensure that all the inherited project, we have to stick, to rescope the project, and then to prioritise it, based on available funds. So what we had to do is to now say, Okay, this is one. “
“This fund available, and we use the fund available to protect the already completed, you know, don’t work, work, you know, improve this. Like in some cases, we have a lot of binary cost that is done.
“And if you allow it and rain is falling on it, there is going to destroy. So our focus will be this amount that is in budget we need to use it to put wearing costs to protect the pavement,” he Minister added.
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