…At least four projects per zone to be commissioned by May 15 — Umahi

…FG to reconstruct key highways with reinforced concrete

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved several major road and bridge projects across the country, including the reconstruction of key highways and the redesign of the Carter Bridge in Lagos.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Umahi said the council approved six major infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity and strengthening the nation’s transport network.

Among the projects approved is the completion of the long-delayed Suleja–Minna Road, which was originally awarded to Salini Construction Company but later terminated due to poor performance.

According to the minister, only about 10 kilometres of the road had been completed before the contract was cancelled.

He said the government has now resolved to complete the remaining 71 kilometres of the dual carriageway, with one carriageway awarded to China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) at a cost of ₦91 billion.

The second carriageway, he added, has also received clearance from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Umahi noted that President Tinubu directed that the road be constructed using reinforced concrete to enhance durability.

The council also approved ₦5.6 billion for the design and costing of a new Carter Bridge project in Lagos.

The minister explained that technical evaluations and stakeholder consultations concluded that the existing bridge structure can no longer be rehabilitated and must be demolished and replaced.

“The stakeholders’ engagement and technical reviews showed that the Carter Bridge can no longer be rehabilitated. It has to be demolished and a completely new bridge constructed,” Umahi said.

He added that Advanced Engineering Consultants has been engaged to carry out the detailed design and cost assessment ahead of the procurement process for the construction of the new bridge.

On another project, Umahi said FEC approved the review and rescoping of the Kano–Kongolam Road, a tax credit project originally awarded in 2022.

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The 132-kilometre corridor linking Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states was initially planned as an asphalt road but has now been redesigned as a three-lane concrete carriageway.

The upgraded design will include solar-powered streetlights and closed-circuit television (CCTV) installations to enhance security along the route. The revised project is estimated to cost ₦334 billion.

The council also approved the reconstruction of the Abuja–Lokoja Road following the termination of contracts awarded to two underperforming contractors.

Umahi said the affected 86-kilometre section would now be reconstructed using reinforced concrete and handled by five contractors, including Julius Berger, which is already executing other segments along the corridor.

The project is estimated to cost ₦146 billion.

Similarly, the council approved the reconstruction of the Ibadan–Ife–Ilesa Road, a 103-kilometre dual carriageway valued at ₦427 billion.

Umahi said the project was awarded by the previous administration but recorded little progress before the current government reviewed and re-awarded the contract.

He noted that the Governor of Osun State had already completed about five kilometres of the road as part of the state’s infrastructure development programme.

FEC also approved Phase Two of the Keffi–Nasarawa–Abaji Road rehabilitation project, covering 129.3 kilometres at a cost of ₦203 billion.

According to the minister, the road will significantly improve connectivity between Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory.

Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government plans to commission at least four major road projects in each of the six geopolitical zones by May 15.

“We are presenting a minimum of four completed projects in each zone for presidential commissioning by May 15. These are not palliative works; they are major infrastructure projects”, he said. (The Nation)

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