THE Federal Executive Council has approved the award of N169.74bn contracts to construct and rehabilitate10 roads across the country.
According to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, the projects would enhance the Federal Government’s objective of improving transportation infrastructure and restoring the nation’s road network as part of the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
On 2nd May, the Minister had presented a request to the FEC for the repair of the Umuahia(Ikwuano)-Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia, Umudike in Abia State; rehabilitation of Calabar-Oban-Ekang Road (Section1) in Cross River State; construction of Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road in Adamawa State; rehabilitation of Ado-Ekiti–Igede-Aramoko-Itawure Road in Ekiti State; and rehabilitation of Funtua-Dandume-Kaduna state border road in Katsina State.
Others, according to the memorandum presented to the Council include the rehabilitation of Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala Road (Yandev-Katsina-Ala Section) in Benue State; rehabilitation of Old Enugu-Onitsha Road (Opi Junction-Ukehe-Okpatu-Aboh Udi-Oji to Anambra border): rehabilitation and dualisation of the 74km Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road in Abia/Akwa Ibom states; construction of 4km Township Road in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State; and rehabilitation of Billiri-Filiya-Taraba state border road in Gombe State.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Hakeem Bello, the Special Adviser to the Minister on Communications, 2,750 direct jobs would be generated with 90 per cent adherence to the local content policy.
The projects are expected to open up settlements, provide access for the evacuation of goods and services and improve the socio-economic lives of the connected communities.
It stated that while the Umuahia (Ikwuano)-Ikot Ekpene Road was awarded to Messrs Hartland Nigeria Limited/Raycon and Company Nigeria Limited in the sum of N13,296,283,958.68, with a completion date of 48 months, the rehabilitation of Calabar-Oban-Ekang Road (Section1) in Cross River State was awarded to Messrs Setraco Nigeria Limited in the sum of N27,781,851,866.55, with a completion date of 24 months, while the construction of Yola-Furore-Gurin Road (approximately 56km) was awarded to Messrs Wiz China Worldwide Engineering Limited in the sum of N13,643,670,884.81 with a completion date of 12 months.
The rehabilitation of Ado-Ekiti–Igede-Aramoko-Itawure Road in Ekiti State (35km approximately), according to the memorandum, was awarded to Messrs Deux Projects Limited/Hitech Construction Company Limited at N14,838,220,269, with a completion period of 30 months, while the rehabilitation of Funtua-Dandume-Kaduna state border Road in Katsina State was awarded to Messrs Rabash Enterprises Nigeria Limited/Afdin Construction Limited in the sum of N9,887,040,586.5, with a completion period of 24 months.
The memorandum also showed that while Messrs Rockbridge Construction Limited would rehabilitate the 43km Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala Road (Yandev-Katsina-Ala Section) in 24 months at the cost of N11,892,018,600, Messrs Arab Contractors O.A.O Nigeria Limited would rehabilitate Old Enugu-Onitsha Road (Opi Junction-Ukehe-Okpatu-Aboh Udi-Oji to Anambra Border) (Approximately 90Km) in 24 months at the cost of N31,946,055,289.93 and Messrs CGGC Global Project would rehabilitate and dualise the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road in 24 months at the cost of N30,649,735,111.38.
Also included in the award were the construction of a 4km Township Road in Gaya LGA of Kano State by Messrs Birak Engineering and Construction Company Limited in the sum of N1,755,086,798.85, with a completion period of 12 months and the rehabilitation of Billiri-Filiya-Taraba state border Road by Messrs Triacta Nigeria Limited to be completed within 24 months in the sum of N14,048,396,236.88.
Fashola said the procurement process which commenced under the 2018 Budget with newspaper advertisements in July 2018 got certification and issuance of a “Due Process Certificate of No Objections for the 10 projects by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).”
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at [email protected]. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin