President Bola Tinubu has approved more than N217 billion for road repairs and construction projects across the country.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while speaking with journalists after an audience with President Tinubu in his office.
The Minister said that the emergency repairs on the 260 roads nationwide will gulp about N217 billion. He added that President Tinubu had also approved more road construction works, including project upgrades.
Some of the roads approved for construction include the resurfacing of the 3rd Mainland Bridge, construction of Lekki deep seaport road, re-construction of two collapsed bridges in Enugu and reconstruction of two locations on the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
Other roads approved for construction include the upgrading of the ongoing Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia road, dualisation of the Lafia by-pass and the 7th AXA Road, Lekki Deep Seaport (access), in Lagos.
President Tinubu also approved the reconstitution of the Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) with the aim of speeding up road maintenance nationwide.
The Minister said the projects would commence in November, with the onset of the dry season.
The Minister commended President Tinubu for his deep interest in reinstating most of the roads in the country. He said that the President had approved all the requests he had brought before him regarding road repairs and construction.
The Minister expressed confidence that the projects would be completed on time and within budget and would go a long way in improving the road network in the country and facilitating economic growth.
He said, “I’ve always commended Mr President for his deep interest in reinstating most of our roads in the country. Everyday we get a lot of concerns from the public on the very deplorable situation of our roads, but there is no paper I brought in respect of that that Mr President has not approved.
“Just yesterday he approved over 260 road interventions across the 36 states and the FCT. You’ll recall that last week he approved a lot of emergency roads and bridges repairs; we have three bridges that collapsed on the Southwest roads, he approved for reconstruction immediately. We have the Shendam- Lafia that collapsed, we also have the approval for its repairs.
“We have about 17 points along the East-West Road that have been destroyed by flood, Mr President has approved and released money for the immediate repairs. Of course the Third Mainland Bridge’s resurfacing and repairs of some noticeable deflections, which have to be done under the deck on top of the water with equipments, he has also approved that.
“Two bridges that collapsed in Enugu, approved by Mr President; the two locations on the Onitsha-Owerri Road, Mr President approved the reconstruction; Lokoja-Abuja Road, Mr President approved the reconstruction.
“I can name them, apart from the 260 emergency repairs all over the country that worth about N217 billion, so I’m quite glad.
“This afternoon again, Mr President approved upgrading of the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia Road, of course it’s ongoing, but it’s a PPP the Chinese and we’re paying 15%. Also the construction of the Lafia Bypass Dualisation from Makurdi, through Oturkpo, through Oboloafor, down to 9th Mile, it’s a major one, but Mr President has approved it. This is also being financed by the China EXIMBank, Lafia-Keffi Road is also financed by Chinese EXIMBank.
“Then, the 7th AXA Road; Lekki Deep Seaport (access), in Lagos. You know the Lagos State government is building the deep seaport, meaning that all the cargoes that cannot berth at the existing ports in Lagos can now come to that location and that’s where the Dangote Refinery is located.
“I saw thousands and thousands of well-established companies that are already installing their equipments there. It’s to be a huge free trade zone. So Mr President has approved that I should go ahead and sign MoU and that it should be programmed for priority in our business with the Chinese,” he said.
