From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi, yesterday, inaugurated the Contract Management Team (CMT) for the concession of 12 Federal Highways across the country. The roads include, Benin – Asaba; Abuja– Lokoja; Kano – Katsina; Onitsha – Owerri – Aba; Shagamu –Benin; Abuja -Keffi –Akwanga; Kano – Maiduguri; Lokoja – Benin; Enugu-Port Harcourt; Ilorin-Jebba; Lagos-Abeokuta; and Lagos-Badagry.
Out of the 12 highways slated for concession, only nine attained commercial close.
Inaugurating members of the Contract Management Team (CMT) which is under the Highways Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), the minister told the concessionaires to incorporate Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) for the execution of the contracts for the nine highways including, Benin – Asaba; Abuja– Lokoja; Kano – Katsina; Onitsha – Owerri – Aba; Shagamu –Benin; Abuja -Keffi –Akwanga; Kano – Maiduguri; Lokoja – Benin; Enugu-Port Harcourt; Ilorin-Jebba; Lagos-Abeokuta; and Lagos-Badagry.
“It is thus evident that the HDMI has attained very important milestones, with the most recent being the aforesaid commercial close executed on Friday, May 26, 2023.
Today’s event is therefore another significant milestone aimed at ensuring compliance with the provisions of the executed contract. As we are all aware, the concessionaires were required to incorporate Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) for the execution of the contract, accordingly” Umahi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mamman Mamuda, stated.
Meanwhile, the HDMI was created by the Ministry to manage and develop the federal road networks, with the aim of attracting sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure and maximisation of the use of assets along the right of way (RoW). The Initiative is expected to among other things restore order, accountability and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management and maintenance of Federal Highways.