The sum of N19.52 billion has been set aside for the construction of roads in Oyo, Niger, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory by the Federal Government, according to Punch.
The Details: The funds were approved yesterday at a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also, the sum of N523 million reviewed for the completion of the Efon-Elaaye-Erimo-Iwaraja road was also approved by the FEC. The road, which was first awarded in 2009, is expected to connect Ekiti and Osun states.
After the FEC meeting, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing gave a breakdown of the total funds approved by the council.
N7.24 billion was earmarked for the construction of the Igbo-Oloko-Agbole road in Oyo, while N7.52 billion was set aside for another road in Gulu town and Yaba town from Niger State to the FCT.
Fashola disclosed that the sum of N4.5 billion was approved for Sharada to Madobi and Dambori road in Kano State.
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The Minister went ahead to explain why the road connecting Ekiti and Osun states resurfaced again.
“That road was awarded in 2009; the contractor had achieved about five per cent of the work; so, we are trying to complete that road.
“It was slowed down in previous years due to insufficient budget. During that period, the price at which it was awarded and today’s material prices have altered significantly,” he said.
Recent Developments: Meanwhile, 524 road projects are currently on-going in the six geopolitical zones of the country, according to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. This was disclosed in a recent Nairametrics report.
Out of those 524 projects, Fashola said four were multilateral-funded road projects; 81 were under the Presidential Infrastructural Development Fund and 45 others being funded by the Sukuk bond.
However, he noted that the ministry was interested in constructing roads that will open the economy and make business easier for everyone. He said Nigeria would get back on its feet if the government tarred the roads that connected ports to border cities.
19.52 billion would construct 48 KM of Road if We rely on article published in 2014 on NAIRALAND website which shows construction cost per kilometer as NGN 400,000,000.00; relevant institutions could search for the reason(s) for the exorbitant cost and provide solutions. Government could show more commitment to revival o rail services to avoid transportation of heavy load by Road.