Unleashing Transformation Across Nigeria's Highways: A Glimpse at FEC's Road Initiatives
Federal Government Endorses 750 Billion Naira for Road Infrastructure Development Across the Country
Get ready to hit the road, Nigeria! The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given the green light to a wave of new and revamped highway projects worth over ₦750 billion, reshaping transportation in various states.
In a lively post-FEC meeting briefing on Monday, the loquacious Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, brought some exciting news to the State House reporters. This announcement came straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak, following the FEC meeting headed by the charismatic President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Umahi shed light on the fact that the council has been busy revising several projects inherited from previous administrations to better fit the existing budgetary constraints and funding availability. One of the most significant approvals was the readjustment of the Akure-Eta-Ogbese-Ekiti border to the Ikere-Ado-Ekiti road project. This crucial roadway connects Ondo and Ekiti states and, following the makeover, will transform from the original 18.4km dual carriageway to a 15km stretch, all at the cost-effective price of ₦19.4 billion.
Another notable approval involves the reimagining of the Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna road project. Originally awarded at a whopping ₦105 billion for a 375km stretch, this project has now been recalibrated to encompass 82.4km and include six bridges, all while maintaining the original budget.
Shaking things up even more, the Maiduguri-Monguno Road project in Borno State—awarded back in 2018 as a 105km initiative—is now in the process of being executed in two phases. The initial phase, covering 30km, has already received approval at a cost of ₦21 billion, with the second phase on the FEC's radar once the first one is complete.
In Gombe State, the Cham-Numan segment of the Gombe-Yola highway in Adamawa has been reassessed and been awarded a contract worth ₦9.25 billion for its initial phase.
On the health front, Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, revealed that the FEC scrutinized two critical health sector initiatives. The first was the endorsement of a report from a committee established to tackle the cholera outbreak of 2023, while the second was a substantial infrastructure improvement plan for the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi, aiming to facilitate its relocation to a permanent location in Apir, Benue State.
In the energy sector, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, shared that the FEC has given the go-ahead to Nigeria's inaugural National Integrated Electricity Policy. The council also gave the thumbs-up to a comprehensive National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, as presented by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Lastly, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources received approval for emergency repair operations on the Alau Dam in Maiduguri, Borno State, aiming to avert a reoccurrence of last year's devastating floods.
The enthusiasm doesn't stop there, people! If you're curious about all the other ongoing projects and the significant investments being made, you can check out these interesting tidbits:
- The much-anticipated Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, valued at $10 billion, is currently under construction and is slated for completion by January 2026. This development will significantly boost transportation between the South East and South West regions of Nigeria.
- The Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, a crucial part of a larger network, has also secured funding for its completion.
So buckle up, folks! It's going to be an exhilarating ride as we see these projects come to life and transform our transportation network!
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presiding over the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has announced new and revamped highway projects worth over ₦750 billion, set to transform transportation in various Nigerian states.
- The Akure-Eta-Ogbese-Ekiti border to Ikere-Ado-Ekiti road project, connecting Ondo and Ekiti states, has been readjusted from a 18.4km dual carriageway to a 15km stretch at a cost-effective price of ₦19.4 billion.
- The Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna road project, initially awarded for a 375km stretch at ₦105 billion, has been recalibrated to include six bridges over an 82.4km stretch while maintaining the original budget.
- The Maiduguri-Monguno Road project in Borno State, initially a 105km initiative awarded in 2018, is now being executed in two phases, with the first phase approved at a cost of ₦21 billion.
- In the health sector, the FEC has endorsed a report from a committee established to tackle the cholera outbreak of 2023 and initiated a substantial infrastructure improvement plan for the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi, aiming to facilitate its relocation to Apir, Benue State.
