The Federal Executive Council has approved at least N3.09trn for several road projects nationwide, including sections of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this to State House Correspondents on Monday at the end of the first Federal Executive Council meeting of the year in Abuja.
Umahi revealed approvals for the Ado-Ekiti and Igede projects, totalling approximately N5.4bn.
He further revealed six projects valued at around N102bn, including one in Egbeda (between Lagos and Ogun States) and another along the Abuja–Lokoja corridor.
According to the minister, parts of the Abuja–Lokoja road constructed by RCC and Dantata & Sawoe are failing.
While the contractors attributed the issues to high temperatures, Umahi disputed the explanation and confirmed that those sections are being rebuilt.
“If you go to the Abuja-Lokoja road, some of the sections done by RCC and Dantata & Sawoe are folding, and when they were confronted, they said it was high temperature, but that is not the truth.
“So that aspect is being redone. Then we have roads in Ogun, another project in Ekiti state, and finally one in Katsina state,” he stated.
He mentioned plans to comprehensively evaluate the pile foundations of the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge.
An initial assessment in 2009 identified deterioration and a follow-up in 2013 showed a progressive decline of the concrete piles, Umahi explained, adding that the ministry initiated an investigation of the underwater piles on both bridges to devise solutions for preventing further damage.
“This will cost N3.57bn to investigate and give us support and to design the remedies,” he noted.
Concerning the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, he explained that while Sections 1 and 2 in Lagos (extending to the boundary with Ogun State) proceed, the President directed that work begin in Calabar and Akwa Ibom.
“And that is what we have done. And it is about 65 kilometres by two dualised; the project is going to cost us N1.334trn for a total of 130 kilometres. And, of course, it is on EPC+10. So, that has been approved by the FEC,” Umahi affirmed.
The Minister then highlighted ten projects collectively approved, including the construction of the Second Niger Bridge access roads.
On the Delta side, the project is valued at N470.9bn (to be built in concrete), and on the Anambra side, it is approved at N148bn, also concrete.
Further approval was granted for Lagos–Ibadan Phase Two, Section One, at N195bn under CBC.
These constitute three Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund projects; meanwhile, the PIDF has been taken over by the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund.
He also mentioned the Abuja–Kano Road contract as the third PIDF project.
Altogether, N885 billion was approved for these ten initiatives, including works such as the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway (N22bn) and the Wusasa–Jos road in Kaduna State (N18bn).
Additional approvals involve reconstructing three sections of the Lokoja–Benin road in concrete: Section One (Obajana–Benin) by CGC at N64bn, Section Two (Auchi–Edo) at N110bn and a third section near the Benin Airport in Edo State at N131bn.
He also noted a project spanning Abia and Enugu States at N12.75 billion, scoped within available border limits.
Turning to the Abuja–Kano road, Umahi said the previous contract with Julius Berger was terminated, prompting the government to split the work into two lots—Section 1 from the FCT–Niger State boundary (with an additional 5.71 kilometres toward Kogi State) and Section 3 in Kano (extended by 17 kilometres).
In total, this 118-kilometer span will receive solar lighting along its length, which is estimated at N252bn.
Most of it will be built with concrete, except Section 3, which will use asphalt.
The Minister underscored that using concrete is more cost-effective than the offer previously proposed to Julius Berger, which the company declined.
He also clarified that a recent misunderstanding between the Ministry of Works and Daily Trust Newspapers had been resolved.
“Let me also add further that we have settled with Daily Trust. They’ve been to our office and graciously explained themselves. They’re happy, and we’re happy.
“The company they reported is a fake company, but that’s not the company that we awarded the job to. And this company awarded the job graciously. The same company listed all the equipment that Julius Berger was using on that road.
“So we are saving money by not paying for another mobilisation. It’s a question of releasing the equipment from Julius Berger’s yard,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmoud, announced that the FCT Administration had submitted five memoranda focused on infrastructure development in the city and its satellite towns.
The first memorandum sought approval to award a contract for providing full access to a bus terminal in Maushi District, Cadastral Zone B06, Phase 2 of the city.
The contract, worth N30.97bn, was awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
The second memorandum secured approval for the award of a contract to fully develop Arterial Road N1 from Wuye District to Ring Road 2 in the FCT. This project, valued at N62.50bn, was awarded to Arab Contractors OAO Nigeria Limited, with a completion timeline of 20 months.
The third memorandum approved the construction of the Kuje–Gwagwalada dual carriageway under the Satellite Towns Development Department. The contract, totalling N67.50bn, was awarded to Gilmore Engineering Nigeria Limited, to be completed in 16 months.
The fourth memorandum involved rehabilitating the Old Keffi Road from Kado Village to Dei-Dei by the Outer Northern Expressway junction. Spanning approximately 15 kilometres in Abuja, this project was awarded to Lubric Construction Company Limited at N26.87bn and is slated for completion within 18 months.
The fifth memorandum granted approval for awarding a contract to provide an access road to the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Project in Cadastral Zone V06 and Karsana West District of the federal capital city, Abuja.
The contract, valued at N31.66bn, was also awarded to Lubric Construction Company Limited, with an estimated completion period of 18 months.
In his brief to journalists, the Minister of Transportation, Said Alkali, stated that the Council approved a detailed feasibility study and engineering design of a proposed road alignment to cost $45.3m.
The alignment would connect the Badagry Deep Sea Port to Tin Can, Tin Can to Apapa, Lekki Sea Port to Ijebu Ode, and finally to Kajola, where it would connect with the Lagos-Kano-Maradi railway modernisation project.
Alkali explained that the project aimed to link the Western ports to the hinterland.
“The idea is to link the Western ports to the hinterland. As it is, we have only Apapa Port, which is connected by a rail line. We have a standard gauge inside the APM terminal in APAPA, which we use for freight from Lagos to Ibadan.
“We also have the old narrow gauge that was rehabilitated. We have put it into use for freight from Lagos to Kano. So, by the time we are able to link all four seaports at the Western corridor to the hinterland, it will further grow our GDP and enhance our economic activity. The contract was awarded at the cost of $45.3m.”
