THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved substantial funding for major road infrastructure projects across Nigeria, with allocations totalling trillions of naira.
A sum of N470.9 billion has been earmarked for an access road in Delta State, while N148 billion will fund the access road to the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra State.
As part of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Phase 2, Section 1) has secured an allocation of N195 billion for reconstruction.
The Lokoja-Benin road will be reconstructed with reinforced concrete, with a total budget of N305 billion. This includes N64 billion for Section I (Obajana to Benin), N110 billion for Section II (Auchi to Edo), and N131 billion for Section III (Benin Airport area).
A N3.571 billion contract has been approved for a structural evaluation of Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge in Lagos.
FEC has also sanctioned N5.4 billion for the Ado-Ekiti–Igede Road Project and N22 billion for the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway. Additionally, N18 billion has been allocated for the Wusasa-Jos route in Kaduna State.
A joint road project between Abia and Enugu states will receive N12.75 billion, while the Abuja-Kano highway has been divided into two segments, with a total approval of N252 billion.
During a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, Minister of Works David Umahi explained that Section I extends from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) boundary to Niger State, incorporating an additional 5.71 kilometres, while Section II covers areas within Kano State, including a 17-kilometre extension.
Umahi stressed that upcoming infrastructure projects, such as the Lokoja-Benin and Abuja-Kano highways, will feature reinforced concrete pavement rather than asphalt.
He said, “Concrete roads are not only more durable but also cost-effective in the long run. The cost of these projects is significantly cheaper than previous asphalt-based contracts rejected by some contractors.
“We are not accepting excuses such as high temperatures for road failures. The affected sections are being redone with proper oversight.”