The Federal Government on Wednesday approved N38.4 billion for the completion of road projects in five states.
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this to journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The roads, according to Fashola, cut across Benue, Bayelsa, Anambra, Imo and Nasarawa states, adding that they were projects inherited from past administrations.
“The first one was the contract for a 13.5km spur of the road from Onitsha-Owerri road through Okija-Ihembosi-For Ugbor to Ezinifite in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra.
“That contract was awarded in 2011 but wasn’t funded until this administration came in so the contractor is asking us to revise the contract by a review of N488, 980, 891 and an additional completion period of six months and the council approved that review of price and the extended completion period.”
Fashola said the second contract was that of the 20km dualisation of Yenagoa road junction to Kolo, Otuoke and Bayelsa Palm in Bayelsa state. He said the contract was awarded in December 2014 on the eve of the tenure of the last administration, but couldn’t take off due to limited budget and militancy in the area.
“It is one of the contracts that we have since activated with the Sukuk bond. So, the dualisation is progressing but there is some additional work that needs to be done,” Fashola said.
He said the third contract was for the completion of a road linking Nasarawa and Benue states.
“The third one is the 74 kilometer Nasarawa to Loko Road – that is the road that was awarded, I believe, in 2006, so it’s 15 years today, 74 km and it has not been completed,” Fashola said.
“This road links the Loko-Oweto Bridge, which we inherited and which we have completed and that Loko-Oweto Bridge links Nasarawa to Benue, across the River Benue, and also connects to the Oweto to Oshogbedo Road, which we also inherited, which we have completed.
“The complete lane from Otukpo to Nasarawa ought to be facilitated by this 74km road. The contractor has struggled with just about five kilometres of it since 2006, and a small bridge.”
