The Federal Government has warned that it will take over any unfinished sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway if contractors do not complete the work by April.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, made this known after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Tuesday.
“We are ready to take over some parts of the road if they are not completed by April because we need to commission that project,” he said.
The expressway project, worth N213 billion, was divided into two phases. Julius Berger has completed the first phase, while RCC is still working on the second phase.
According to Umahi, N30 billion is needed to finish the remaining sections, including an 8.55-kilometre stretch on the Lagos-bound carriageway.
“The contract value of what is left is about N4 billion. The Lagos-bound section is 8.55 kilometres, and the cost of completing it is N22 billion.
“So, in total, we need about N30 billion to finish the project,” he explained.
At the meeting, FEC also approved 14 major road projects across different states, worth a total of N242.148 billion.
One of the key projects approved is the Agaye-Kachia-Baro Road in Niger State, awarded to Messrs GR Building Construction Limited for N22 billion.
Other approved projects include:
- Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja Road (Cross River State) – N26.335 billion, awarded to Samatech.
- Abeokuta-Ajibo-Iyana Mosa Road (Ogun State) – N10.89 billion, to be handled by Messrs HMF Construction Limited.
- Ibaji-Odulu-Ajibu Road (Anambra State) – N9.33 billion, awarded to Niger Cat.
- Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road (Abia State) – N14.37 billion, awarded to Heartland Construction Company.
- Kaduna-Jos Road (Phase One) (Kaduna and Plateau States) – N33.423 billion, awarded to Setraco.
- Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road (Adamawa State) – N11.81 billion, handled by Wis China Worldwide Engineering Limited.
- Ijebu-Igbotita Road (Ogun State) – N13 billion.
- Lamido Road (Taraba State) – N7.68 billion, awarded to Messrs Mode Limited.
- Nkomoro-Isu Road (Enugu and Ebonyi States) – N14.49 billion, awarded to Arab Contractors.
- Ikot-Ekpene Border-Aba-Owerri Road Dualization – N11.55 billion, awarded to Arab Contractors.
- Gashi-Bayamari Road (Yobe State) – N9.68 billion, awarded to Rick-Rock.
- Ikorodu-Shagamu Road (Lagos State) – N27.59 billion, to be executed by Arab Contractors.
For the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the remaining sections will be completed by RCC and Arab Contractors, with N30 billion allocated for final works.
Meanwhile, Umahi said FEC postponed the approval for constructing the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency headquarters. He explained that further research is needed before the project can be reconsidered.
