President Tinubu has approved the allocation of N787.14 billion and $651.7 million for road projects across 13 states.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) granted approval yesterday for a range of infrastructure and environmental projects to be implemented nationwide.
After the FEC meeting, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, informed journalists that there are new and updated road contracts in 13 different states.
Umahi stated that the Council has given the green light for modifications and changes to the dualization project that includes the Akure-Eta-Ogbese-Iju-Ekiti border up to the Ikere-Ado-Ekiti road, which passes through sections of Ondo and Ekiti states.
He said, “Fifteen kilometres of the 18.438km stretch will be constructed within available funds at a revised cost of N19.407 billion.”
A similar adjustment in scope was approved for the Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna dual carriageway, which is a 375km project carried over from the previous administration.
He said, “The Sokoto to Zamfara section, originally awarded for N105 billion, has now been rescoped to cover 82.4km plus six bridges, still within the same budget.”
The Council has given the green light to divide the long-delayed 105-km Maiduguri-Monguno road in Borno State into different phases, with the initial 30 km section being awarded a contract valued at N21 billion.
Umahi mentioned that the subsequent phase will be brought before the FEC once the initial segment is finalized.
New contracts were issued as well, such as the building of the Abakaliki-Afikpo Flyover in Ebonyi State, valued at N25 billion. Additionally, the construction of the Ikoga Road and the Atan-Alapoti-Ado-Odo Road in Ogun State was approved at a cost of N37.045 billion.
Focusing on the partnership with the private sector and the role of tax credit financing, Umahi mentioned that the Enugu-Onitsha road project, which receives partial funding from MTN, is being redesigned to cover 77 kilometers and has been contracted for N150 billion.
In the Southwest region, the construction of the final 96-kilometer segment of the Benin-Shagamu-Ore road has received approval, with the project budgeted at N187 billion.
Regarding the international financing, the minister revealed that the 50-kilometer 7th Axial Road initiative, featuring five kilometers of bridges, has received $651.7 million in financial backing from China Exim Bank.
He said, “This road is a strategic evacuation corridor for goods from the Lekki Deep Seaport, including those from Dangote Refinery and Fertiliser Plant.”
Additionally, the Council confirmed projects announced earlier, such as the Aba-Ikot-Ekpene road costing N30.23 billion, the extended shoreline protection at Ebute-Ero and Outer Marina, with costs revised to N176.495 billion, and the refurbishment of the Cham-Numan stretch of the Gombe-Yola road. This refurbishment will now occur in phases, with an allocation of N9.253 billion approved for the initial phase.
Source: River state People