By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N733bn to facilitate various road projects to upgrade the country’s road networks and bridges.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the end of the Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, in Abuja.
He explained that the projects approved were part of the government’s strategy to enhance connectivity and economic growth across the country.
He said the key among these projects is the dualisation of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, valued at N55bn.
He said the contract was awarded to Decon Construction Nigeria Limited after a previous approval for N80bn in 2021 was re-procured due to cost disputes with one of the last contractors.
“Another major project is the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ilorin road section two in Oyo State, awarded to GRVe for N147bn.
He said the project will utilize reinforced concrete pavement to enhance durability.
The Minister said FEC further approved the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road section two, a 164-kilometer stretch, for a staggering N507bn.
InfoWest Nigeria Limited won the contract competitively, having also been involved in sections one and three of the project.
Also, a flyover at Abakpa in Enugu, bordering the 82 Division, was approved for N24bn, with CCECC as the contractor; Umahi said the project aims to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.
*Debunks claim Tinubu’s govt is skewing projects to favour South
The Minister also addressed concerns about the regional distribution of projects, debunking claims that President Tinubu’s administration is skewing road projects to the south.
“The President is committed to completing all the inherited projects. Most of the projects we announce are inherited projects, and the President is committed to continuing them.”
He emphasised that project approvals are based on memos submitted to FEC and should not be perceived as being distributed equitably across regions.
He said, “Let me use one minute to correct an impression created in the Senate. There was a time when we awarded some projects, and we came here to say the projects that FEC approved, and a senator raised a motion in the House, alluding that more projects were approved in the South than in the North.
“Let me correct that impression because I’m not qualified to write to the senate president to fix it. However, the fact remains that the memo that comes to FEC is approved.
“Sometimes a memo can be in favour of a particular region or a particular zone and so forth. So, our briefing here should not be taken as if we are bringing projects equitably.
“You know, a project may go to BPP, and they are processing it is but is not…like today, we have a total of N507bn, which is for the Abuja-Kano section. And, of course, in my zone, we have only N24bn.
“So the President is committed to completing all the inherited projects. In any case, most of the projects we announce are inherited projects that the President is continuing. If you go back to look at the inherited projects, they were not even equitably distributed by the last administration, but the President did not mind. He continues, all of them.”
