The Federal Government on Wednesday approved a combined sum of N1.02tn for major road construction projects and health sector infrastructure, including the N74.51bn upgrade of the East-West Road linking Port Harcourt to the Onne Port Junction in Rivers State, and N302.30bn for a new National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment Centre in Abuja.

🇳🇬 Here's What Happened

The approvals were disclosed by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Goronyo said the Ministry of Works presented seven memos to council, all of which were approved.

“The Federal Executive Council today considered about 50 memos, and the Ministry of Works came up with seven memos, six on road construction, and one on trailer parks,” he said.

📌 Key Details

Among the road contracts ratified was the reconstruction of the Ado-Ekiti-Iyin-Aramoko-Itawure-Osun State border road, awarded to Messrs CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nigeria Limited at N159.83bn, with a completion period of 24 months.

Council also ratified variation orders for the rehabilitation of the Abeokuta-Iboro-Ilaro Road in Ogun State, changing the pavement structure from rigid concrete to flexible asphalt, awarded to Messrs Strabic Construction Limited at N54.118bn.

On the East-West Road, Goronyo said, “There is a section that is very bad now, and we believe with the approval of FEC now, it will go a long way in maintaining that road and make the place more conducive for our travellers and for the transportation of goods and services.”

The 15-kilometre Phase II upgrade, covering the Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction) to Onne Port Junction section, was awarded to Messrs RCC Nigeria Limited at N74.51bn, with a nine-month completion period.

Council also approved the Phase II rehabilitation of the Ado-Ekiti-Afe Babalola University Road along the Ado-Ijan/Iluomoba-Imesi Ondo State border in Ekiti State, awarded to Messrs S&M Nigeria Limited at N54.52bn, and the construction of the Ilara-Iselu Road, Phases II-V, in Ogun State, awarded to Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited at N94.24bn, with a 24-month completion period.

The Council also approved three Public-Private Partnership concessions for trailer parks and highway operations, to be entirely funded by the concessionaires under the Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Maintain/Transfer model, Goronyo disclosed.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria