The Federal Executive Council has approved 13 road contracts totaling about N679 billion for the Ministry of Works to support road rehabilitation and new construction projects across several states in Nigeria.
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, announced this after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Umahi explained that the contracts include rescoping, variation, and new projects, with a focus on ensuring they align with available funds. He emphasized that most of the projects were awarded during the previous administration, but the current government is committed to completing them.
He said, “The directive of the Federal Executive Council is to ensure that all inherited projects are rescoped and prioritized based on available funds. We are focused on using the budget to protect completed works and prevent damage.”
Among the approved projects, the Aakalari-Ukuk Road in Bauchi State will be completed in phases, with Phase One set for six months at N11.278 billion. The Uturu-Isikwuato-Akara Road in Abia State will also be executed in phases, with N5.926 billion allocated for Phase One.
A major new project involves constructing a road from Zaria through Ukui to Kolomani, Dan Bali, Maraba, Kanya, Subawa, and Kasa in Kaduna and Katsina States. This project, valued at N198 billion, has been awarded to MotherCat Nigeria Limited, with a 36-month timeline.
The rehabilitation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, particularly the section from Dantata Sowo, has been reassigned to Tractor Nigeria Limited. The 18-month contract is worth N128.395 billion.
In Kebbi State, the 57-kilometer Bagudu road project received approval for N2.645 billion, while the Oba-Nnewi-Arondizogu-Okigwe road in Imo and Anambra States will undergo a six-month rescoping at N8.45 billion for Phase One.
Umahi also mentioned an adjustment to the Iyin-Ilawi-Ekiti road project. Initially approved at N13.736 billion, the Ministry corrected an error and received FEC’s approval for the correct amount of N15.626 billion.
Other approved contracts include:
– Ilogu Road in Kwara/Osun States: N7.556 billion (Phase One, six months)
– Wukari-Akwana Road in Taraba State: N12.615 billion (12 months)
– Bida-Lapaya-Lambda Road in Niger State: N39.493 billion (Phase One, six months)
– Gada-Zamazuru-Gamji Road in Kebbi State: N11.976 billion (six months)
– Kamakish Road in Oyo State: N12.35 billion (12 months)
The FEC also approved an adjustment to the Outer Marina Shore Protection Project in Lagos. The contract sum increased from N144 billion to N176 billion to include additional shoreline protection for the Nigerian Navy and other federal institutions.
Umahi gave an update on the Charm-Numan Road and Bridge project, which was affected by flooding in October 2024. The revised contract has been approved to ensure the bridge’s completion.
Furthermore, the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road dualization will move forward in phases, with N30 billion awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited for Phase One.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s dedication to infrastructure development, saying, “Our focus is to use the available funds to protect completed works and prevent damage caused by rain. We are working within the budget to ensure timely completion of these projects.”
