Abuja, Nigeria – February 4, 2025
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a series of critical road projects across Nigeria, totaling over N1.43 trillion, in a move aimed at enhancing national infrastructure and boosting economic development.
At a press briefing following the FEC meeting on Monday in Abuja, Minister of Works David Umahi provided details of the approved projects, which span multiple states and regions. Among the key allocations:
- N470.9 billion for the access road in Delta State.
- N148 billion for the access road to the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra State.
- N195 billion for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Phase 2, Section 1) under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).
- N305 billion for the Lokoja-Benin Road, which will be reconstructed entirely with reinforced concrete pavement. This includes:
- N64 billion for the Obajana-Benin (Section I).
- N110 billion for the Auchi-Edo (Section II).
- N131 billion for the Benin Airport area (Section III).
- N3.571 billion for a comprehensive structural evaluation of the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge in Lagos.
- N5.4 billion for the Ado-Ekiti–Igede Road Project.
- N22 billion for the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.
- N18 billion for the Wusasa-Jos Route in Kaduna State.
- N12.75 billion for a collaborative road project between Abia and Enugu States.
- N252 billion for the Abuja-Kano Highway, which has now been divided into two major segments:
- Section one: From the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) boundary to Niger State, incorporating an additional 5.71 kilometers.
- Section two: Covering key areas in Kano State, featuring a 17-kilometer extension.
Transition to Concrete Roads
Minister Umahi emphasized that the government is shifting towards reinforced concrete pavement instead of traditional asphalt for major road projects.
“Concrete roads are not only more durable but also cost-effective in the long run. In fact, the cost of these concrete projects is significantly cheaper than previous asphalt-based contracts rejected by some contractors,” he stated.
He also dismissed contractor excuses for poor road conditions, saying, “We are not accepting excuses such as high temperatures for road failures. The affected sections are being redone with proper oversight.”
This massive infrastructure investment is expected to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, and enhance economic activities across Nigeria.
