Olushola Omogbehin
President Bola Tinubu has approved the construction of six major road projects across the country as well as the proposed demolition of the Carter Bridge in Lagos and the redesign of a new bridge.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, revealed these six roads on Wednesday to include:
The Suleja–Minna Road, which was originally awarded to Salini Construction Company but later terminated due to poor performance. Umahi said only 10 km of the road was completed before the contract was cancelled.
According to him, government has concluded plan to complete the remaining 71 kilometres of the dual carriageway.
One carriageway has been awarded to China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) at a cost of ₦91 billion while the second carriageway has also received clearance from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
On Carter Bridge, Umahi said that technical evaluations and stakeholder consultations has agreed that the existing structure can no longer be rehabilitated and must be replaced.
The design and costing of a new Carter Bridge project in Lagos for ₦5.6 billion.
He said advanced Engineering Consultants has been engaged to carry out the detailed design and cost assessment ahead of the procurement process for the construction of the new bridge.
Next is the review and rescoping of the 132 km Kano–Kongolam Road, a tax credit project originally awarded in 2022.
The road, which links Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states, was initially planned as an asphalt road but has now been redesigned as a three-lane concrete carriageway.
The upgraded design will include solar-powered streetlights and closed-circuit television (CCTV) installations to enhance security along the route. The revised project is estimated to cost ₦334 billion.
Phase Two of the Keffi–Nasarawa–Abaji Road rehabilitation project, covering 129.3 kilometres at a cost of ₦203 billion.
The road will significantly improve connectivity between Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory.
The reconstruction of the Abuja–Lokoja Road is also included, following the termination of contracts awarded to two underperforming contractors.
Umahi said the affected 86-kilometre section would now be reconstructed using reinforced concrete and handled by five contractors, including Julius Berger, which is already executing other segments along the corridor. The project is estimated to cost ₦146 billion.
Also, in line, is the deconstruction of the Ibadan–Ife–Ilesa Road, a 103-kilometre dual carriageway valued at ₦427 billion.
Umahi said the project was awarded by the previous administration but recorded little progress before the current government reviewed and re-awarded the contract.
