Federal Executive Council Approves N594.49 Billion for Eight Highway Projects Across Nigeria

The Federal Executive Council has approved eight federal highway projects with a combined value of N594.49 billion, covering road corridors across several states including Abia, Kogi, Ekiti, Sokoto, Adamawa and Taraba.

Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi disclosed the approvals on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The approved projects range in contract sum from N11.33 billion to N209 billion. The largest single allocation is N209 billion for the 81.1-kilometre Ado-Ekiti-Ijan-Ilumoba-Ikole Road in Ekiti State, including a bridge, awarded to CBC.

Other approvals include N160 billion for the reconstruction of the 95-kilometre E2K-Okey-Ampa-Otopa Road in Kogi State, and N89.2 billion for the 47-kilometre Bichi Ring Road including a flyover.

The Council also approved N62 billion for a 30-kilometre road linking Adamawa and Taraba states with five bridges, awarded to WeChina Nigeria Limited, and N28.218 billion for the 17-kilometre Sokoto-Illela Road, Route A1, awarded to Kespeko Global Limited.

Smaller allocations include N20.257 billion for the 18-kilometre Amaseri Road from Ishagu to Otakot on the Enugu Expressway, N14.486 billion for the eight-kilometre Dikko-Maje link road connecting to the Suleja-Minna Road, and N11.33 billion for the third phase of the Umuahia-Bende-Afikpo Road in Abia State.

Umahi explained that the Umuahia-Bende-Afikpo project had previously been funded under the NNPC tax-credit scheme but stalled after the arrangement was discontinued.

He said the project was rescoped, with the Abia State Government undertaking to construct the remaining 43 kilometres.

Beyond the eight projects, Umahi said the Council considered remedial works on deteriorated sections of the East-West Road, which had sunk below current flood levels because it was constructed years ago.

The minister also disclosed that Nigeria and four other West African countries are pursuing financing from the African Development Bank for the proposed 1,028-kilometre Lagos-Abidjan highway.

He said he would chair a meeting with his counterparts from Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire on Friday to discuss financing arrangements.

Nigeria’s section of the highway stretches 79 kilometres from Tincan Island in Lagos to the Seme border with Benin Republic. The other sections comprise 128 kilometres in Benin Republic, 89 kilometres in Togo, 576 kilometres in Ghana and 155 kilometres in Côte d’Ivoire.

Umahi added that the entire 375-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano corridor would be fitted with solar-powered streetlights, describing it as the longest route to benefit from the initiative.