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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved road construction and rehabilitation projects worth about N438 billion nationwide, including concessions for trailer parks and highways under public-private partnership arrangements.
Minister of State for Works Bello Goronyo disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
Goronyo said the Council considered about 15 memoranda, including seven from the Ministry of Works covering major road construction, rehabilitation projects and trailer park concessions.
FEC approved the reconstruction of the Ado-Ekiti-Iyin-Aramoko-Itawure-Osun border road in Ekiti at N159.83 billion, awarded to CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nigeria Ltd.
The Council also ratified variation orders to rehabilitate the Abeokuta-Iboro-Ilaro Road in Ogun, involving a change in pavement design from rigid concrete to asphalt, at N54.12 billion.
FEC also approved the reconstruction of the 15-kilometre Port Harcourt-Eleme Junction-Onne Port Junction section of the East-West Road in Rivers at N74.51 billion, awarded to RCC Nigeria Ltd. with a nine-month completion period.
Other approvals included Phase II rehabilitation of the Ado-Ekiti-Afe Babalola University Road in Ekiti at N54.52 billion, and construction of the Ilara-Iselu Road, Phases II-V, in Ogun at N94.24 billion, awarded to JRB Construction Company Ltd. with a 24-month completion period.
Trailer park concessions approved
Goronyo said FEC also approved public-private partnership concessions to relocate heavy-duty vehicles from highways.
“The essence of these trailer parks is to ensure that we move those trailers from our highways,” he said.
Private concessionaires will design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the facilities, with the national government providing no funding, according to Goronyo.
Among the approvals was the development of the 7.9-kilometre Dikko-Maje section of the Suleja-Minna Road in Niger at N56.75 billion under a 40-year concession, awarded to Graciatech Engineering Nigeria Ltd.
The Council also approved the operation and maintenance of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by LIB Concession Group at N96.43 billion under a 25-year concession period.
FEC further approved the development of a greenfield trailer park at Aro-Ngwa, Abia, at N19.70 billion under a 50-year concession, awarded to Greg Jane International Ltd.
Goronyo said the projects would strengthen transportation infrastructure and stimulate economic activities across the country.
“Roads are the enablers of growth, and they are the ones that boost the economy of any nation,” he said.
He added that the projects would “go a long way in alleviating the sufferance of our people” by improving connectivity and facilitating the movement of people and goods.
