THE Federal Government has completed the first 118-kilometre section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway at a cost of N257 billion, while approving 27 major road projects worth over N3.9 trillion across 15 states as part of efforts to accelerate infrastructure development nationwide.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed the development while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday. He also announced that the remaining 164-kilometre section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway is scheduled for completion by November 2026.
Umahi said President Tinubu approved the extensive portfolio of road projects to improve connectivity, boost economic activities, and strengthen transportation infrastructure across the country.
According to the minister, the approved projects are spread across Adamawa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe states.
One of the most significant approvals, Umahi said, was the re-award of the 409-kilometre dual carriageway project in Niger State under the Tax Credit Scheme to businessman Aliko Dangote at a cost of N1.8 trillion.
He said: “Other major approvals include N276 billion for the dualisation of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road; N265 billion for the reconstruction of the Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road linking Oyo and Kwara states; N217 billion for the dualisation of the old alignment from Ijaye through the Federal Government College to Ilorin Road, with a spur to Akinmorin; and N116 billion for the 21-kilometre Abakaliki-Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State.
“The council also approved N110 billion for the Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road in Oyo and Osun states; N104 billion for the rehabilitation of Sections One and Two of the Ilorin-Omorin-Ebe-Kabba-Obajana Road in Kwara and Kogi states; N98 billion for the construction of the 30-kilometre Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road in Oyo State; and N92 billion for the rehabilitation of the Baban-Lamba-Sharan Phase Two Road in Plateau State.”
The minister further disclosed that the council approved N86 billion each for the reconstruction of the Enugu-Abakaliki Road with a flyover and the Adikpo-Ajayi-Tese-Akpa-Otukpo Road, which traverses Benue and Cross River states.
According to Umahi, additional approvals include N83 billion for the Jimeta-Mayo Belwa Road in Adamawa State; N82 billion for the rehabilitation of Igbeti Road in Oyo State; N74 billion for the construction of the Igbeti-Soro-Kishi Road in Oyo State; N71 billion for the 52-kilometre Dabban-Makina Road in Niger State; and N62.99 billion for the Tungo-Karamti Road, including five bridges linking Adamawa and Taraba states.
He added that FEC also approved N58 billion for the rehabilitation of Yola-Hong-Mubi Road Phase Two; N46 billion for the Amasiri-Okporojo Road; N34 billion for the 18-kilometre Ikere-Ekiti-Ijare Road linking Ekiti and Ondo states; N26 billion for a new flyover on the ongoing Trans-Sahara Road; N24.7 billion for the rehabilitation of the Kabba-Ifaki-Ado Ekiti Road linking Kogi and Ekiti states; and N21 billion for the construction of a flyover at Oko-Olowo Junction in Kwara State.
Umahi further revealed that the council approved N15.7 billion for the construction of the Pacific Road linking Igbe Laara to Ikorodu in Lagos State; N15.5 billion for the 13-kilometre Badeku-Jaiye Road in Oyo State; N15.246 billion for Phase Two of the Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road project in Adamawa State, covering an additional 20 kilometres after the completion of the first 17-kilometre phase; and N15 billion as augmentation for the 32.2-kilometre Gashua Road project in Yobe State, which was originally awarded in 2022.
The Minister also announced that the Federal Executive Council approved the Full Business Case for the operation and maintenance concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
He added that the council directed the immediate commencement of the reconstruction of failed sections along the Ibadan axis of the expressway using concrete pavement, as part of measures to improve the durability and long-term performance of the critical highway.