… Works Ministry secures about ₦3.94tn for highways, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway concession
… Council okays ₦286bn maritime projects, ₦34.4bn Gboko airstrip
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved infrastructure projects worth over ₦4.26 trillion spanning roads, maritime safety and aviation, in one of the largest single-day approvals for transport infrastructure under the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The approvals were granted at the council meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Monday.
The largest chunk of the approvals came from the Federal Ministry of Works, where projects valued at about ₦3.94 trillion received the council’s approval.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said FEC approved 23 road projects across 10 states with a combined value of about ₦2.078 trillion.
The projects, he said, cover Adamawa, Taraba, Ebonyi, Kwara, Cross River, Kogi, Lagos, Niger, Oyo and Plateau states, and are designed to improve connectivity, facilitate the movement of goods and people, reduce travel time and stimulate economic growth.
Umahi disclosed that the council also ratified a presidential approval granting a ₦15 billion augmentation for a 32.2-kilometre road project in Gashua, Yobe State, which was originally awarded in 2022, following the sharp increase in construction material prices.
Council further approved ₦15.246 billion for the second phase of the Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road project in Adamawa State, covering an additional 20 kilometres after the completion of the 17.84-kilometre first phase.
The minister also announced approval of the Full Business Case for the operation and maintenance concession for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, paving the way for private-sector participation in the long-term management and maintenance of one of the country’s busiest highways.
He disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the Ministry of Works to immediately commence due process for the reconstruction of the failed Ibadan approach to the expressway using reinforced concrete pavement technology to improve durability, enhance safety and reduce future maintenance costs.
“Let me also report that I informed FEC about the deteriorating situation on the completed Lagos-Ibadan expressway, especially on the section that was completed by Julius Berger. The Ibadan axis is failing very badly. If you go there, it is rotting, and it’s just folding, it is very dangerous for vehicular movement.
“Mr President directed that we should use due process to procure that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway be done using concrete technology,” he said.
In what constituted the single largest approval of the day, Umahi said the FEC approved the rescoping and re-award of a 409-kilometre dual carriageway project in Niger State under the tax credit scheme at a cost of ₦1.8325 trillion.
He explained that because the highway is dualised, the project represents about 818 kilometres of pavement to be constructed using reinforced concrete technology.
According to him, the project replaces an earlier contract awarded in 2022 and will be executed by the Dangote Group to accelerate delivery and provide more durable road infrastructure capable of supporting heavy industrial traffic.
“The project was awarded to CGC far back in 2022, where you have, in some cases, trucks falling down where people were coming to scoop fuel. We lost a lot of people there.
“We put things together with the Honourable Minister of Information and approached Mr President, and he said we should allow Dangote, who also has major investment along that corridor, to do it.
“So we rescoped the project from CGC and made available a total of 400.9 kilometres of the road. The total that is approved under the Dangote tax credit is N1.8325tn”, he said.
Providing an update on ongoing projects, the minister disclosed that the first 118-kilometre section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, valued at ₦137 billion, has been completed, while work on the remaining 164-kilometre section is progressing steadily and is expected to be completed in November.
Also briefing correspondents, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced FEC’s approval of ₦34.398 billion for the construction of an airstrip in Gboko, Benue State.
Keyamo said the contract was awarded to CCECC Nigeria Limited.
He explained that the airstrip would serve as a strategic hub for agricultural activities, strengthen security operations, and facilitate humanitarian interventions as well as emergency medical services in Benue State and neighbouring communities.
The council also approved projects worth about ₦286 billion to strengthen maritime safety, improve port operations and protect Nigeria’s marine environment.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said FEC approved four strategic maritime projects designed to modernise the nation’s port infrastructure and support the growth of the blue economy.
According to him, the council approved the procurement of two marine pollution control vessels valued at about ₦59.05 billion to combat plastic pollution and other marine waste across Nigeria’s territorial waters, creeks and inland waterways while improving environmental protection and navigational safety.
“One of the biggest issues confronting the globe is the issue of plastic pollution in oceans, lakes, rivers, and many other places. These boats are intended to address the issue of pollution in the water bodies of Nigeria, particularly in the ocean, because one of the biggest problems being confronted by shippers globally is the fact that the oceans are getting more and more polluted with plastics and many other pollutants that hinder shipping navigation,” he said.
FEC also approved the acquisition of six pilot cutter boats worth about ₦80.03 billion to facilitate the safe transportation of marine pilots to and from vessels, assist ships navigating port channels and strengthen communication between ships and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Lawal further disclosed that the council approved the purchase of two firefighting boats valued at about ₦34.06 billion, equivalent to approximately $16 million, to improve emergency response to fires involving ships, oil terminals, waterfront facilities and other critical port infrastructure.
The council equally approved ₦112.85 billion for the capital and maintenance dredging of the Escravos Channel through a joint venture involving the Nigerian Ports Authority and private sector partners.
According to the minister, the dredging project will improve navigability, remove underwater obstructions, strengthen pollution monitoring, maintain navigational aids and enhance maritime safety in line with international maritime standards.
