The Federal Government has marked a major infrastructure milestone with the completion of the first 118-kilometre section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, which cost N257 billion. Alongside this development, the government has greenlit 27 major road projects valued at over N3.9 trillion across 15 states to fast-track national development.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, shared these updates following a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting led by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Umahi noted that the remaining 164-kilometre portion of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway is on track to be finished by November 2026.
According to the minister, President Tinubu’s approval of this massive portfolio aims to enhance connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and reinforce the country’s transport infrastructure.
The selected projects span across Adamawa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe states.
A key highlight among the approvals is the re-award of the 409-kilometre dual carriageway project in Niger State. This project has been allocated to businessman Aliko Dangote under the Tax Credit Scheme for N1.8 trillion.
Detailing the other allocations, Umahi stated:
“Other major approvals include N276 billion for the dualisation of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road; N265 billion for the reconstruction of the Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road linking Oyo and Kwara states; N217 billion for the dualisation of the old alignment from Ijaye through the Federal Government College to Ilorin Road, with a spur to Akinmorin; and N116 billion for the 21-kilometre Abakaliki-Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State.
“The council also approved N110 billion for the Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road in Oyo and Osun states; N104 billion for the rehabilitation of Sections One and Two of the Ilorin-Omorin-Ebe-Kabba-Obajana Road in Kwara and Kogi states; N98 billion for the construction of the 30-kilometre Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road in Oyo State; and N92 billion for the rehabilitation of the Baban-Lamba-Sharan Phase Two Road in Plateau State.”
The council additionally approved N86 billion each for reconstructing the Enugu-Abakaliki Road (which features a flyover) and the Adikpo-Ajayi-Tese-Akpa-Otukpo Road connecting Benue and Cross River states.
Further funding allocations include N83 billion for the Jimeta-Mayo Belwa Road in Adamawa State; N82 billion for the Igbeti Road rehabilitation in Oyo State; N74 billion for the Igbeti-Soro-Kishi Road construction in Oyo State; N71 billion for the 52-kilometre Dabban-Makina Road in Niger State; and N62.99 billion for the Tungo-Karamti Road, which includes five bridges connecting Adamawa and Taraba states.
Umahi added:
“FEC also approved N58 billion for the rehabilitation of Yola-Hong-Mubi Road Phase Two; N46 billion for the Amasiri-Okporojo Road; N34 billion for the 18-kilometre Ikere-Ekiti-Ijare Road linking Ekiti and Ondo states; N26 billion for a new flyover on the ongoing Trans-Sahara Road; N24.7 billion for the rehabilitation of the Kabba-Ifaki-Ado Ekiti Road linking Kogi and Ekiti states; and N21 billion for the construction of a flyover at Oko-Olowo Junction in Kwara State.”
He also revealed that N15.7 billion was approved for the Pacific Road connecting Igbe Laara to Ikorodu in Lagos State; N15.5 billion for the 13-kilometre Badeku-Jaiye Road in Oyo State; N15.246 billion for Phase Two of the Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road project in Adamawa State (adding 20 kilometres following the completed 17-kilometre first phase); and N15 billion to augment the 32.2-kilometre Gashua Road project in Yobe State, which was initially awarded in 2022.
Finally, the minister announced that the FEC approved the Full Business Case for the operation and maintenance concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
To ensure long-term durability, the council ordered an immediate start on reconstructing failed portions of the expressway along the Ibadan axis using concrete pavement.
