The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved road projects and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concessions worth over ₦610 billion to improve critical transport infrastructure nationwide.
The decisions reached at Wednesday’s Council meeting in Abuja cover the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of strategic federal highways, alongside concession initiatives designed to attract private investment and technical capacity to the delivery and management of road infrastructure.
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, announced the approvals while briefing State House correspondents on resolutions from the meeting.
Goronyo said the measures were part of the Tinubu administration’s strategy to fast-track improvements to the federal road network while expanding private-sector participation through PPP financing.
As part of the approvals, the Council endorsed a ₦159.826 billion contract for the reconstruction of the Ado-Ekiti–Iyin–Aramoko–Itawure–Osun State border road, with Messrs CBC Global Civil & Building Construction Nigeria Limited as the contractor.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Trans-Sahara Road Project Hits 45% Completion- Minister
The contract value, inclusive of 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax, provides for a 24-month execution period.
FEC further authorised a ₦54.118 billion variation on a previously considered road rehabilitation project to accommodate revisions in the scope and financial requirements of the work.
Goronyo said the interventions demonstrated the government’s resolve to close infrastructure gaps along important federal routes and strengthen links between states and key centres of economic activity.
The Council also gave the go-ahead for PPP concessions intended to mobilise private funding for the construction, rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of selected federal highways.
The minister said the concession framework would reduce the financial burden on government while securing the investment required to improve and sustain vital transport corridors, with the assets remaining under Federal Government ownership.
He added that the projects were spread across various parts of the country and were expected to ease movement, cut journey times and vehicle operating expenses, and support the transportation of agricultural produce, manufactured products and other goods.
Goronyo noted that better highway infrastructure would also boost commerce between states and improve connections to markets and communities situated along the affected routes.
The minister further said the Ministry of Works would closely oversee project execution to ensure adherence to approved standards and delivery schedules.
