The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved road construction and rehabilitation projects worth about N438 billion nationwide.
The approvals also included concessions for trailer parks and highways under public-private partnership arrangements.
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s FEC meeting.
The meeting was presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Mr Goronyo said the Council considered about 15 memoranda submitted by various ministries, including seven from the Ministry of Works.
He said the Ministry’s submissions covered major road construction, rehabilitation projects and trailer park concessions.
According to him, FEC approved reconstruction of the Ado-Ekiti-Iyin-Aramoko-Itawure-Osun border road in Ekiti.
The project was awarded to Messrs CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nigeria Ltd. for N159.83 billion.
The Council also ratified variation orders for rehabilitating the Abeokuta-Iboro-Ilaro Road in Ogun.
Mr Goronyo said the variation involved changing the pavement design from rigid concrete to asphalt at N54.12 billion.
FEC further approved reconstruction of the 15-kilometre Port Harcourt-Eleme Junction-Onne Port Junction section of the East-West Road.
The Rivers project was awarded to RCC Nigeria Ltd. for N74.51 billion, with a nine-month completion period.
The Council also approved Phase II rehabilitation of the Ado-Ekiti-Afe Babalola University Road in Ekiti.
The road forms part of the Ado-Ijan-Iluomobi-Imesi-Ondo border route and will cost N54.52 billion.
Another approval covered construction of the Ilara-Iselu Road, Phases II-V, in Ogun.
The project was awarded to JRB Construction Company Ltd. for N94.24 billion, with completion expected within 24 months.
Mr Goronyo said the projects formed part of efforts to 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 said the projects would “go a long way in alleviating the sufferance of our people.”
According to him, rehabilitating critical road corridors would improve connectivity and facilitate the movement of people and goods.
He added that improved connectivity would also enhance economic activities across the affected areas.
On trailer parks, Mr Goronyo said FEC 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.
He said the parks would provide truck operators with properly developed facilities where they could safely park their vehicles.
Mr Goronyo explained that private concessionaires would design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the faciliti
He stressed that the federal government would not provide funding for the concessioned trailer park projects.
Among the approvals was development of the 7.9-kilometre Dikko-Maje section of the Suleja-Minna Road in Niger.
Graciatech Engineering Nigeria Ltd. will develop the project at N56.75 billion under a 40-year concession.
The Council also approved operation and maintenance of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by LIB Concession Group.
The project has a cost of N96.43 billion and carries a 25-year concession period.
FEC further approved development of a greenfield trailer park at Aro-Ngwa, Abia.
Greg Jane International Ltd. will undertake the project at N19.70 billion under a 50-year concession.
Mr Goronyo said the approvals reflected the administration’s commitment to mobilising private-sector capital and expertise.
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He said such partnerships would support development, operation and maintenance of critical national infrastructure.
The minister commended President Tinubu for prioritising road infrastructure and advancing projects across different parts of the country.
He said the ongoing projects demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving transportation infrastructure and supporting economic development.
Mr Goronyo added that the approved projects would help reduce infrastructure deficits and improve road safety.
He said they would also create more conducive conditions for transportation, trade and other commercial activities nationwide.
(NAN)
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