Nigeria’s road infrastructure is set for another round of construction and rehabilitation after President Bola Tinubu approved ₦631.3bn for nine major road projects across the country.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed the approval on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to Umahi, the projects cover the six geopolitical zones and are intended to improve transportation, support economic activities and strengthen connections between commercial centres.
The minister said the intervention was part of the administration’s efforts to address the country’s deteriorating road infrastructure, adding that contractors had been directed to mobilise to their respective sites without delay.
He also said the projects would be closely supervised to ensure quality and timely completion, while assuring Nigerians that due process was followed in awarding the contracts and that the government had secured value for money.
The approved projects vary in scope, from the reconstruction of long stretches of highways to the construction of a ring road and remedial work on an existing federal route.
Here is a breakdown of the nine road projects and their approved costs, as disclosed by the minister.
1. Ado–Ilawe–Ilumaba–Ikole Road, Ekiti State — ₦209bn
The reconstruction of the 81.1-kilometre Ado–Ilawe–Ilumaba–Ikole Road in Ekiti State accounts for the largest allocation among the nine projects, with the plan also including the construction of a bridge.
2. Etuke–Okeni–Ankpa–Otopa Road, Kogi State — ₦167bn
The Federal Government has approved ₦167bn for the reconstruction of the 95-kilometre Etuke–Okeni–Ankpa–Otopa Road in Kogi State.
3. Bichi Ring Road, Kano State — ₦89.2bn
The proposed construction of a 47-kilometre ring road in Bichi, Kano State, will include a flyover, with ₦89.2bn approved for the project.
4. Tungo–Karamti Road, Adamawa and Taraba states — ₦62bn
The Tungo–Karamti Road project will connect communities in Adamawa and Taraba states, with the approved allocation covering a route that includes five bridges.
5. East–West Road — Cost not specified
The approval also covers remedial work on deteriorated sections of the East–West Road, although the minister’s published list did not state a separate allocation for the intervention.
6. Sokoto–Illela Road, Sokoto State — ₦28.218bn
The rehabilitation of a 17-kilometre section of the Sokoto–Illela Road, designated Route A1, has been allocated ₦28.218bn.
7. Road linking Asaba to the Port Harcourt–Enugu Expressway — ₦20.257bn
A sum of ₦20.257bn has been approved for an 18-kilometre road connecting Asaba to the Port Harcourt–Enugu Expressway.
8. Road project previously undertaken by Abia State — ₦11.33bn
The Federal Government has approved ₦11.33bn for a road project previously undertaken by the Abia State Government under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company tax-credit scheme.
9. Dikko–Maje link road, Niger State — ₦14.486bn
The Dikko–Maje link road in Niger State, which connects to the Suleja–Minna Road, is the ninth project on the list, with an approved allocation of ₦14.486bn.
The latest approvals add to the Federal Government’s road infrastructure programme, but the eventual impact of the investments will depend on implementation, construction quality and the timely delivery of the projects.
Although Umahi said contractors had been instructed to mobilise immediately, the announcement did not provide individual completion dates for the nine projects.
