The Federal Government has awarded various road contracts totaling N430.5 billion covering 14 states across the country.
The Supervising Minister of Information, Dr. Nurudeen , while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Cabinet meeting said there are budgetary provisions of N11billion in the ministry of works’ 2014 Appropriation and N10billion from SURE-P for the projects, adding that the balance would be provided for in subsequent budgets.
“Council noted with delight that this is a major push in consolidating and implementing National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan in the road sector.
“It further observed that the projects will have salutary effect on the economic and social life of Nigerians along these corridors across 14 states.
“Accordingly, council approved the award of contract for the construction and rehabilitation of 17 No. Roads and Bridges
(Categories A and B) in the 1st batch of roads and bridges projects contained in the ministry’s 2014 budget implementation in the total sum of N430.56billion,” he said.
The projects and costs are as follows: Rivers (N1206billion); (N26.4billion); Delta (N64.8billion); Delta (N47.9billion); Enugu (N32.3billion); Abia and Rivers (N34billion) and Ogun (N100billion).
Others are Niger (N17.5billion); Bridge in Cross River (N6.5billion);
Yobe and Borno (N8.1billion); Kaduna and Zamfara (N15.6billion); Nassarawa (N14.2billion); Benue (N9.9billion); Kogi (N7.4billion); Gombe (N7.2billion); Cross River (N7billion) and Cross River (N9billion).
Also speaking, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen explained that the roads and bridges which cut across 14 states of the federation were meant to enhance the ongoing transformation of the road sector, catalyse economic activities and bring about positive social change in different parts of Nigeria.
Asked why government should be spending such huge amount on contract at atine there is drop in oil prices, Onolimememe responded, “In terms of falling oil prices like you said, that is a global phenomenon and Nigeria is not broke, despite the fact that oil prices are falling, we have not reached a stage that Nigeria cannot continue to fund infrastructure projects in our country.
“Infrastructure projects themselves help to catalyse economic growth because people must be busy, there are Nigerians who would be engaged to do these jobs and all that.
“Over 13,600 jobs will be created from this project that will last for up to a period of about five years, this will get them busy and put food on their table,” Onolelemen argued.
Some of the projects, according to Onolememen include the Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State with 3 major bridges across Afa Creek, Opobo Channel and Nanabie Creek; the new Ikom Bridge in Cross Rivers State; the Agae-Katchia-Baro Road and the Ikorodu-Shagamu Road linking the NNPC Depot at Mosinmi in Ogun State.
Others include the reconstruction and dualisation of Aba-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Lokpanta sections of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway; as well as the rehabilitation of Damaturu-Biu Road and Gombe-Kaltungo Section of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is again seeking a loan from China to fund the expansion of the Abuja-Keffi Expressway.
Onolememen said the ministry had already procured Certificate of No Objection on the project from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). He siad the project will commence once the negotiation is concluded.
His words, “On the Abuja-Keffi Road, just a few days ago, we got the Certificate of No Objection from BPP finally for the award of the contract.
“That is leading us to obtain the necessary approval from Mr. President.
“It will interest you to know that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, within the next 10 days, will be leading a delegation to China to finalise the EXIM loan for that particular project among others.
“By the grace of God, I will be on the team and I am very hopeful that will signal the beginning of that project. Once we conclude in China, it will signal the beginning of that project.”
