The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the sum of N79.649 billion for the dualisation of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road, and over N5 billion naira for various contracts in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Katsina airports.
This was disclosed by the Presidency and Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola in a meeting with newsmen at the Statehouse in Abuja on Wednesday after the FEC meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja
The Presidency said, “The Minister of Aviation presented a memo for the approval of the award of contracts at the Murtala Mohammed international airport Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport Abuja, Aminu Kano international airport Kano and Katsina airport in Katsina State.
“For Lagos, it is for the expansion of the terminal building at domestic terminal GAT for the sum of N2, 817, 579, 271.99. For the Katsina airport, it is for the expansion of the airport’s apron awarded at N527, 353, 095.12.
“There is also the expansion of Lagos cargo apron areas awarded at N1,982. 943, 242.31.
“Council also approved the expansion of Abuja domestic apron areas at N795, 976, 947.34 and also the expansion of Kano apron area at the cost of N1, 059, 120, 254.37.”
They added that the contracts would be vital in improving air transport value chain in Nigeria.
Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola said the FEC approved the sum of N79.649 billion for the dualisation of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road, in relation to the section from Oku Iboku Power Plant to Abak of about 26-kilometre stretch.
“The Ministry of Works and Housing presented the memorandum for the completion of the dualization of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road. And this is in relation to the section from Oku Iboku Power Plant to Abak of about 26-kilometre stretch.
“Council approved the award to Messers Sematech Nigeria Ltd for N79.649 billion to be executed over 16 months.
“So, this will help complete the dualization gaps between the one awarded to Julius Berger and the section awarded to CCECC.
“When this is done, motorists in that area will now have an option of the dual carriageway instead of the existing single carriageway.
“And this is in recognition of the heavy cargo that passes through that area from the South-South through to the North Central, Benue through Katsina Ala through to the South East to Abia. It’s very very important trade link for the country,” Fashola said.
On an update of contract awarded before for the same project, the Minister said that there were limited budgetary requisitions which slowed down the project.
“It’s important for us to have a common understanding of the area – that is the rain forest area of Nigeria, mangrove areas, very high water table and rains in seven, eight months of the year,” he said.
“So, when we awarded the first section, from Odukpani-Itu to Julius Berger in 2016, they could not move to site because of the limited budgetary requisitions, that slowed down work in that area and they didn’t move to site until 2018.
“And the second section, which was from Abak to Ikot Ekpene was awarded in last year, February 2020. We have had to mobilise some Sukuk resources to the area.
“Sometime last year, you might recall that I was there visiting with the governor, I actually went twice and we focused first on the link road from Alese Ugep area because that was a very big bad one, that one used to take like, three, four days to traverse a 70 kilometer road.
“Now, we have that under control, resolved, motorable in the first phase to Odukpani. That has reduced the journey time there to less than two hours, from days. So, again, it’s a work in progress,” he added.
