The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Executive Council has approved over ₦43bn for the completion of Phase II, Section II of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, alongside several other major road and infrastructure projects nationwide.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja. He said the funds will cover flyovers, underpasses, concrete pavement, ramps, and adjoining roads previously omitted from earlier phases of the project.
“This project was awarded about five years ago, but didn’t take off. When Mr President came in, FEC terminated the earlier contract. Now, we’ve re-awarded Phase II, Section II for N43bn,” Umahi said.
Umahi added that the Council also approved the review of the Mushin–NNPC Junction–Apapa-Oshodi Expressway dualisation from ₦11bn to ₦19.09bn due to inflation.
He further announced awards and revisions on other highways, including the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, the Ilorin–Omu Aran–Egba Road, Enugu–Onitsha Road, and the Ota–Idiroko corridor, noting that most adjustments were driven by design changes and rising construction material costs.
According to him, the third section of the 1,068km Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway was approved to span 162.97km from Badagry through Ogun to the Oyo border, at ₦3.39bn per kilometre. Phase I of the Ilorin–Omu Aran–Egba Road (31km) was also approved at ₦43bn.
He revealed that some state governments, including Edo, Delta and Abia, have taken up funding and execution of federal roads in their jurisdictions to ease pressure on the federal purse.
Meanwhile, the FEC also approved several projects under the Federal Capital Territory Administration. FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the Council ratified engineering infrastructure development for Maitama II district, covering over 786 hectares. He explained that the project, originally awarded five years ago, had stalled and has now been re-awarded to accelerate development.
Wike added that FEC confirmed ongoing construction of residences for heads of key federal courts and approved the extension of water supply to Karu, Karshi, Orozo and Bwari, as well as emergency rehabilitation earlier undertaken at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre ahead of the last ECOWAS Parliament session.
Wike said the Maitama II project will ease pressure on central Abuja and enable property owners in the district to finally commence development.
Credit: punchng.com
