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•4 projects for commissioning per Zone by May 15 –Umahi
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved multiple high-impact road and bridge initiatives, from highway reconstructions to a full rebuild of Lagos’ Carter Bridge.
Minister of Works David Umahi shared these updates during a media briefing at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, at the end of the meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu. “Today we got approval for six numbers of projects,” Umahi said.
The approvals cover six strategic projects designed to boost transport links and resilience across the country. The projects Suleja–Minna Road, previously handed to Salini Construction Company. “The company did a bit of the job about 10 kilometers, and it was about 91 kilometers from Suleja to Minna. But it failed almost as they were doing it,” Umahi said.
He added that the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago had taken over about 20 km via urban renewal, leaving 71 km by two carriageways. After termination—with the matter before ICPC for fund recovery—one carriageway went to CGC for ₦91 billion, and the second to CCECC post-BPP approval. President Tinubu directed concrete for at least the shoulders and main carriageway. “So both projects we will see very serious improvement in terms of performance starting from next week.”
Additionally, ₦5.6 billion was okayed for Advanced Engineering Consultants to handle design and costing of the Carter Bridge replacement. “Recall that we have been to FEC, got approval after going through stakeholders’ engagements, the total recommendation was Carter Bridge can no longer be rehabilitated, it should be demolished, and then a new bridge be constructed,” Umahi noted.
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The FEC, he said also retooled the 132 km Kano–Kongolam Road—a 2022 tax credit project spanning Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states—from asphalt to a secure three-lane (12m wide) concrete carriageway with solar lights, tree planting, and CCTV. “Because of this security there, the project could not take off. And so when we came on board, we had to review the project and rephrase it… instead of doing the entire 132 kilometer by two, so we decided to take one carriageway by three lanes… 132 kilometer scoped for N334 billion,” the minister explained.
Contracts for the 86 km Abuja–Lokoja Road, Umahi said were scrutinized amid underperformance by firms like Venus and Sodiji. “Venus and Sodiji, they are not performing, so we have decided to terminate our contract… This one we have scoped now is 86 kilometers, which we are going to do on concrete. And five contractors bid it, and two got one week,” Umahi said. It includes prior sections like 48 km by Trukrit and 56 km by Keyhote, now with Julius Berger among handlers for ₦146 billion total.
The 103 km Ibadan–Ife–Ilesa dual carriageway, inherited with minimal progress, got a fresh ₦427 billion award after review, noting Osun State’s 5 km contribution.
Phase Two of the 129.3 km Keffi–Nasarawa–Abaji Road rehabilitation, at ₦203 billion, will better link Nasarawa State to the FCT.
Umahi announced ambitions for rapid delivery: “We are presenting a minimum of four completed projects in each zone for presidential commissioning by May 15. These are not palliative works; they are major infrastructure projects.”
