By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council approved several high-profile road projects on Wednesday yesterday, including N740bn for the Berger stretch of the Abuja-Kano route.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the cabinet meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Minister clarified the government’s approach to managing the extensive backlog of infrastructure projects.
He said the Shagamu-Benin road is undergoing critical rehabilitation while procurement processes are finalized for its full reconstruction using reinforced concrete pavement.
Umahi further said the Abuja-Kano road, previously slated for a tax credit arrangement, will now be procured without such a provision, with the 162-kilometer Berger section already approved for N740bn.
The Minister highlighted several other projects, including the commencement of construction on the Sokoto-Badagry road, with the Sokoto section to be flagged off imminently.
He said that work on the Oyo-Ogbomosho road, a project that has been stalled for 18 years, will resume, and the Makurdi-Katsina-Ala road will undergo significant repairs.
Umahi said FEC also tackled the inherited debt profile of N1.6trn tied to 2,604 projects, with a total contract value of N13trn.
He said the Ministry of Works has initiated a phased approach to project completion based on available funding to manage the backlog.
He said the council approved advanced payment mechanisms to combat inflation and rising costs driven by fluctuating exchange rates and petroleum prices.
