GOVERANCE

FG Approves N1.24 trillion For Major Road Projects Nationwide

 

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a substantial N1.24 trillion for critical road infrastructure projects across Nigeria.

The allocation, aimed at upgrading and expanding the nation’s road network, is part of the government’s commitment to improve transportation and stimulate economic activities.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, made the announcement following a FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

Among the key projects to benefit from the funding is the Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State, which received an additional N80 billion, raising its total cost to N280 billion. This road is vital for linking strategic oil and gas regions and enhancing access to the Bonny Island.

A major highlight of the new approvals is the Abuja-Kano Road rehabilitation, for which a massive N740 billion has been earmarked to cover an 82-kilometer stretch.

The project, awarded to renowned construction firm Julius Berger, is crucial to improving one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors, enhancing both commercial and passenger traffic.

In the northwest, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway in Kebbi State has been greenlit for the construction of a 258-kilometer, three-lane carriageway, further cementing the government’s infrastructure development agenda.

Also, funds have been set aside for the rehabilitation of other critical roads, including the Maraban-Kankara/Funtua Road in Katsina State and the dualization of the Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Road, which spans Ebonyi, Abia, and Imo States. These projects are expected to boost connectivity and ease transport between key economic hubs.

Minister Umahi also provided an update on the recently completed emergency works on Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge. The bridge, which is a lifeline for millions of commuters, now boasts enhanced security features, including CCTV cameras and a rapid-response observation room designed to improve safety and ensure swift emergency responses.

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In response to the devastating impact of floods in certain regions, the FEC has also approved 14 additional road and bridge projects, focusing on areas severely affected by these natural disasters. These include projects in Ekiti, Adamawa, Kebbi, Cross River, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, and Rivers States.

Some of the critical roads under this initiative include:

  • Ado-Ekiti/Afe Babalola Road in Ekiti State
  • JB Lamba Road in Adamawa State
  • Kuku-Besse-Zaria-Kata Road in Kebbi State
  • Ngutuk-Demeshi Road and Amasiroposi/Uburishagu-Enugu Road
  • Ebom Road in Cross River State
  • Ilesha-Oke-Igbo Road in Ondo State
  • Lafia/Shendam Road in Plateau State
  • The dualization of Bodoken/Kitti/Koroma Road in Rivers State

The Gamboru Bridge in Borno State is also among the projects to receive attention.

Furthermore, two new contracts have been awarded for road projects linking Cross River to neighboring regions, and another connecting Kabba in Kogi State to Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State. These contracts will be executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

Minister Umahi reiterated that the Abuja-Kano Road project, inherited from the previous administration, is progressing steadily, with 62 kilometers already completed at a cost of N393 billion. Julius Berger will continue work on the remaining section, ensuring that this vital route is fully rehabilitated.

These ambitious infrastructure projects form part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes modernizing Nigeria’s road network, enhancing the country’s transportation framework, and fostering broader economic development.

 

 

 

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