FEC approves ₦631.3 billion for nine road projects across Nigeria

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved about ₦631.3 billion for nine road projects in Nigeria.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, shared this news after Wednesday’s FEC meeting led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

Umahi said these projects will boost transportation, improve connections, and help the economy by building, fixing, and upgrading important roads.

He mentioned that part of the funding includes reconstructing the 95-kilometre Etuke, Okeni, Ankpa, Otopa Road in Kogi, with a contract worth ₦167 billion.

The council also agreed to spend ₦209 billion on reconstructing the 81.1-kilometre Ado, Ilawe, Ilumaba, Ikole Road in Ekiti, which will also include a bridge.

Another ₦62 billion was set aside for the Tungo, Karamti Road that connects Adamawa and Taraba, which will include five bridges.

Umahi said the FEC also approved ₦20.257 billion for an 18-kilometre road linking Asiago to the Port Harcourt, Enugu Expressway.

An extra ₦30 billion will go towards fixing worn-out parts of the East, West Road.

The council also approved ₦11.33 billion for a road project that the Abia Government had started earlier.

Umahi explained that this approval comes after the funding plan under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. tax-credit scheme was stopped.

He also mentioned that ₦28.218 billion was approved to fix a 17-kilometre stretch of the Sokoto, Illela Road, Route A1.

The minister praised Mronubu for finishing the first 118-kilometre section of the Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria Road.

He stated this section was done in 30 months, with 81 kilometres built using reinforced concrete.

Umahi added that work on the second section, which is 164 kilometres long, is almost done, with just 16 kilometres left.

He also revealed that the full 375-kilometre Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Kano corridor will have solar-powered streetlights installed.

Regarding the Lagos, Abidjan coastal highway, the minister said ministers from the countries along this route will meet on Friday to talk about funding.

He noted that the highway includes 79 kilometres in Nigeria, 89 kilometres in Togo, 576 kilometres in Ghana, 155 kilometres in Côte d’Ivoire, and 128 kilometres in Benin Republic.

According to Umahi, the plan is for the African Development Bank to give loans to the countries involved for their sections.

He said this regional highway aims to improve connections and support trade among West African countries.