FEC approves over N400bn worth of road projects nationwide

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a series of major road contracts and revisions valued at more than N400 billion to boost the country’s road infrastructure.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this to State House correspondents after Thursday’s FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Umahi said he submitted 11 proposals to the council — nine seeking approval for revisions of inherited projects and two for new road contracts.

According to him, the council endorsed the award of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway Phase Two, Section Two, valued at N43 billion, to fix failed sections and complete underpasses and ramps.

“We also got approval for the dualisation of Mushin–NNPC Junction–Papa Oshodi Expressway, which was reviewed from N11 billion to N19 billion due to cost differentials,” he said.

The minister added that FEC sanctioned the construction of Section Three of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, covering 162.97 kilometres from Badagry through Ogun to the Oyo State border, at a cost of N3.39 billion per kilometre.

He said a number of ongoing projects inherited from previous administrations were reviewed for additional funding and design changes, including the Ilorin–Omu Aran–Egba road and the old Enugu–Onitsha road.

Umahi explained that the 216-kilometre Ilorin–Omu Aran–Egba road had been segmented, with the first 31 kilometres to be executed under Phase One at a cost of N43 billion, while the remaining stretch would be completed as more funds become available.

He noted that the East–West Road had also been redesigned to enhance traffic flow and strengthen its pavement, maintaining its Phase One cost at N156 billion for dual carriageways and bridges.

The minister said several state governments had taken over federal road projects in their jurisdictions to ease funding challenges and accelerate completion.

He announced that the Ota–Idi-Iroko road project in Ogun State had been revised to include a rigid concrete pavement and an extra bridge, increasing its cost from N38 billion to N52 billion.

Umahi further revealed that the council approved the rehabilitation of the Jos–Turunkun–Maraban–Jama’a road in Kaduna State at N30 billion, and the reconstruction of the Ijebu–Ibu Ete–Egba–Owena road linking Ogun and Ondo States at N53 billion.

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to durable road construction, the minister said the government would continue to prioritise the use of concrete pavements for cost efficiency and longevity.

“Our focus remains delivering durable road infrastructure to support economic growth and ease of movement across the federation,” he said.