FG approves N19.3bn for roads in FCT, Oyo, Kano – TheNigerialawyer

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President
Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sum of N19.352 billion for road
projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oyo and Kano
states.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola said this
while briefing State House correspondents at the meeting at the
Council Chamber, Presidential Villa Abuja.

The minister said that two memoranda and one report from his
ministry were presented to the council and they were approved.

According to him, “the first memorandum was to approve the
change of rates with respect to Efon-Elaaye, Erimo-Iwaraja linking
Ekiti and Osun states. That road was awarded in 2009, the
contractor had achieved about five percent of the work, so we are
trying to complete that road.

“It has been slowed down by previous years of insufficient
budget and during that period, the price at which it was awarded
and today’s material prices have altered significantly – cement,
iron rod, labour, diesel, petrol and all of that. So he is asking
for a revision which has been approved.

“We have also extended completion period for him by six months;
so we are hoping that this is one of the roads that will be
completed in the new year. I think with the news of this approval,
he will have comfort now to go back and work. The review is N523.
826 million.

“The second memorandum we presented was for the award of three
roads in Igboho-Oloko-Agbonle in Oyo State and Gulu to Yaba town
between the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State as well as
Sharada to Maidobi and Danbaure in Kano State.

“Council approved these roads for N7.249 billion for the first
one in Oyo, N7.593 for the second one in Niger/FCT and N4.510 for
the third one in Kano.”

The Works Minister said he also intimated the council on the
number of roads done so far across all states of the federation,
saying 524 roads are currently undergoing rehabilitation. He said
43 internal roads were being constructed in the nation’s
universities, out of which 10 had been completed

He said: “The last report is really an update to Council on the
status of work on the roads across the states and there are two
broad categories here.

“There are 524 road projects across the routes A1 to A9 and to
apprise Council on what is going on those projects, how much the
contract prices are, the outstanding amount that needs to be paid
to contractors for certificates and how much we expect to spend
next year as part of the report of our ministry to FEC about what
progress we are making, what challenges we are facing and what
needs to be done.

“That report also includes the work being done on internal roads
in 43 universities and federal institutions across Nigeria. We have
finished, I think 10; then, 33 are at different stages of
completion. These include work done on repair and maintenance of
bridges like Tatabu, Tamburawa, Isaac Boro, Eko bridge, Third
Mainland bridge, Independence bridge etc as part of infrastructure
epair and upgrade.

“They also include updates on the performance of projects being
funded under the infrastructure, tax credit scheme approved as
Order Seven by Mr. President. Those are projects like Apapa –
Oworosoki express way, the Boro Bonny bridge.

“It also includes the projects that are funded by multilateral
loans under the China EXIM bank like the Akwanga Keffi highway.
They cover works that are being done in road signage, job
creation.”