On Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved ₦740 billion for the Berger stretch of the Abuja-Kano road, as part of a series of major road initiatives. Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, announced this decision during a briefing with State House correspondents following a cabinet meeting led by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Senator Umahi emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling the extensive backlog of infrastructure projects, which includes both critical repairs and new constructions. He highlighted the ongoing rehabilitation of the Shagamu-Benin road, which is set for a complete reconstruction using reinforced concrete pavement.
Regarding the Abuja-Kano road, Umahi noted that the 162-kilometer Berger section, initially considered for a tax credit arrangement, will now receive direct funding, with the ₦740 billion already approved.
In addition to the Abuja-Kano route, the council is gearing up for the imminent flag-off of the Sokoto section of the Sokoto-Badagry road, the resumption of work on the long-stalled Oyo-Ogbomosho road, and major repairs on the Makurdi-Katsina-Ala road.
Umahi also revealed that the FEC discussed an inherited debt profile of ₦1.6 trillion, linked to 2,604 projects with a total contract value of ₦13 trillion. To address this challenge, the Ministry of Works has implemented a phased project completion strategy based on available funding. The council has also approved advanced payment mechanisms to help mitigate the impacts of inflation, fluctuating exchange rates, and rising petroleum prices.
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