The Federal Government has approved a substantial sum of ₦733.89 billion for the dualisation of the Oyo-Ogbomoso Road in Oyo State, among several other critical infrastructure projects. The announcement was made by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, following the 24th Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Monday.
The ₦733.89bn allocation is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve Nigeria’s road infrastructure, which remains a major area of focus for the current administration. The Oyo-Ogbomoso road dualisation project, which is part of the Ibadan-Ilorin Road (Section Two), will cover a stretch of 147km and is expected to cost ₦147.89bn. The road, which connects several key regions in Oyo State, will be constructed with reinforced concrete pavement. The contract for this section of the project has been awarded to GRVe Construction Company.
Aside from the Oyo-Ogbomoso Road project, the Federal Executive Council approved several other notable infrastructure developments. One of the key projects is the dualisation of the Odupani-Itu-Idedem Item-Ikot Ekpene Road, which spans Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. The contract for this ₦55bn project has been awarded to Decon Construction Nigeria Limited.
Umahi explained that the road project, which covers important sections connecting Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, had faced challenges due to issues with previous contractors. The road works had been divided into sections, with contractors such as CCECC, Berger, and Somatech handling different parts of the project. However, following a review by the government, Decon was awarded the contract after the previous contractors failed to meet expectations. Umahi clarified that while some contractors accepted the review, others, like Berger, insisted on an over ₦100bn budget, which led to the termination of their contract.
“This is being re-procured through selective competitive bidding. Decon Construction won the contract for ₦55bn, which is significantly lower than the ₦100bn that was initially proposed,” he stated.
Another significant project approved was the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road. Specifically, Section Two of the road, which spans 164km, has been awarded to InfoWest Nigeria Limited for ₦507bn. This is the same company responsible for Sections One and Three of the road, underscoring the continuity in the development of this critical route.
Additionally, the Federal Government approved the construction of a flyover in Abakpa, Enugu, near the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army. The ₦24bn project, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the area, has been awarded to the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). This flyover is expected to improve movement within Enugu, especially for those travelling to and from the 82 Division.
During the briefing, Minister Umahi also responded to concerns raised in the Senate regarding perceived regional imbalances in the allocation of road projects. Some senators had pointed out that more projects seemed to be concentrated in the southern regions of Nigeria, particularly in the wake of recent announcements.
Umahi clarified that the allocation of projects was based on the memos received and processed by the Federal Executive Council and was not a result of any deliberate favouritism towards a particular region. “Sometimes, a memo can favour a particular region or zone. It’s not like today, when we have N507bn for the Abuja-Kano section, and only N24bn for the Southeast,” Umahi said, stressing that the distribution of projects was influenced by factors such as procurement processing timelines.
He also pointed out that many of the projects currently under development were inherited from the previous administration, and as such, their distribution might not have been initially equitable. However, President Bola Tinubu has committed to ensuring that all inherited projects are completed, with an emphasis on the completion of critical infrastructure across all regions of the country.
“I want to correct the impression created in the Senate. It is not about bringing projects to one region over another; the projects that are being executed are based on memos that come to us. The President is committed to completing all inherited projects,” Umahi added.
In addition to the road projects, the Federal Executive Council also approved a ₦1.09bn insurance package for critical assets and personnel at all federal airports in Nigeria. This decision, as explained by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is part of the government’s efforts to ensure that the country’s airports meet international standards and are adequately protected.
Keyamo explained that this insurance coverage was in line with a directive from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which requires ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure that critical government assets are properly insured. The move, according to Keyamo, is also essential for Nigeria to secure certification from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is crucial for the continued growth and safety of the country’s aviation sector.
“This approval ensures that not only are our critical airport assets covered but also the personnel working in these environments,” Keyamo said. The ₦1.09bn insurance contract will cover federal airports for one year, beginning once the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) completes the premium payment.
Five leading Nigerian insurance firms, including Leadway Assurance Company Ltd., Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Linkage Assurance Plc, NEM Insurance Company, and Anchor Insurance Plc, have been selected to handle the coverage.
The approval of these key projects demonstrates the Federal Government’s continued commitment to improving the nation’s infrastructure, particularly road networks and transportation systems. These developments are seen as critical to easing transportation bottlenecks, improving the flow of goods and services, and enhancing overall economic productivity.
