FEC: FG approves N3.5tn for roads, airports, others

 The Federal Executive Council on Monday approved road and bridge projects nationwide worth N2.38tn with plans to publish a state-by-state ledger of works above N10bn in the coming weeks.

FEC

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, revealed this while briefing State House Correspondents after Thursday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Umahi said the headline contracts include Abuja road Section I (118km, N286bn); Abuja road Section II (164km, N502bn); Abuja–Kano road (72km, N450bn); Nembe Bridge (N156bn); and the Sokoto–Badagry corridor, Section 2 to Kebbi (228km, three lanes, N961bn).

Two adjustments were also approved; an N11.42bn extra to complete the Lagos–Shagamu–Ijebu-Ode–Ore project and N8.94bn for revisions in Niger State—bringing the aggregate to N2.38bn

On cash flow, Umahi said the Presidency has released N75bn toward Abuja Section I (which he described as 30% of the N286bn total); about N150bn (about 30 per cent) for Abuja Section II; N45bn (presented as 30 per cent) for Abuja–Kano; and 30% of the N156bn Nembe Bridge—N46.8bn—bringing documented releases on these four items to roughly N316.8bn.

He added that the Abuja County application project, valued at $22bn, has also received a 30 per cent payment (in dollars). Separately, funds have been released for all four sections of Bauchi–Gombe, with additional Sukuk disbursements to Gombe, where works have commenced.

The minister said the programme will catalyse growth by connecting states to reduce logistics costs and raise the GDPs of states. He cited the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway saying the first section is 85 per cent complete as already benefiting Lagos’ economy.

The former governor said, “The Lagos Calabar coastal highway section 4A and 4B, is in Ogun, taking from where the section one stopped at Lekki there, and then going to the Ondo. We have about 40km in Ogun state and a 40.35km in Ondo State. And so the Ondo has gotten to the border between Ondo and Edo state, and that’s where we are. And the total kilometer is 80.533 by two. That is 80.53 kilometer, six lanes. And the total contract sum is N1.65tn.

“It involves removing the pits up to an average depth of six meters, replacing it with fresh water, sharp sand, and raising the existing ground level by five meters, so that no amount of flooding will come to it and is passing through swampy areas. So these are what FEC approved.

Umahi also outlined fresh and revised approvals: the Biu–Numan road in Adamawa extended from 45km to 61.76km; added funding for the Lagos–Shagamu–Ijebu-Ode–Ore corridor; design changes in Niger (binder crossing and a new strand bridge); and the award of Sokoto–Badagry, Section 2 (to Kebbi) at N961bn, with 120km reported completed in Sokoto.

“And so today FEC approved the review of projects in Borno and Adamawa, and that’s Biu-Noma Road project, and it was initially awarded in 2020, 45km, N15.43bn, and today it’s been reviewed to N61.76bn, keeping the 45km for BiuNewman Road in boronu, stroke Adamawa. The second project that was approved was eh the Maraba KV road. The Maraba KV road is 43.6 kilometers, and is dualised.

“Then we have the Sokoto-Badagry. You are aware that we had awarded the Sokoto-Badagry before. It was in August 2024 and that was 258km in Kebbi for one carriage way, and that was for a contract sum of N940.7bn. So today we have awarded the second carriage way in Kebbi, 258 kilometers, three lanes for N961bn and then in Sokoto, additional 120 kilometers for N456bn.

“So we have completed in Sokoto, 220 kilometer by two. And that’s roughly about N920bn. And in Kebbi, you have 258 times two. And that is about roughly N2tn that is in Kebbi section alone. So FEC approved this construction,” Umahi explained.

Addressing last week’s Keffi Flyover tragedy, Umahi expressed condolences, said the Federal Government had settled with the affected families, and confirmed reconstruction is underway with the bridge closed to traffic.

He announced that the ministry will publish project lists and status, adding that he is ready to “debate the numbers any day” as records are released. More details are expected when the consolidated project register is made public next week.

“We always at any time, any day can stage a debate with anybody that wants to darken counsel without knowledge in terms of roads and bridges infrastructure?

The president has done extremely,” he argued.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the Council approved, via the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, airport projects worth N919.10bn in total. He described the package as “massive infrastructural upgrades” across key gateways, especially the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

At MMIA, International Terminal 1 will be stripped to the carcass and fully rebuilt, with all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems replaced—an award to CCECC that also covers Terminal 2 works (apron expansion, access roads, bridges and associated infrastructure).

“So this is not the patchwork we used to do before, where we just do some patchwork of sections and all of that the total rehabilitation would mean, just for transparency, to let the public know that we are going to strip it down to only the carcass, and then do the complete M and E again, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, everything to have a brand new airport in Lagos, solely funded by the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund,” said Keyamo.

The Lagos rehabilitation has a 22-month completion period and would cost N712.24bn. Additional approvals for the Lagos airport include a 14.6km security metal fence, perimeter road, CCTV, intrusion-detection and solar floodlights tied to a modern command centre costing N49.899bn and to be completed in 24 months; runway 18L/36R and taxiways B/C rehabilitation with CAT II LED lighting for N44.13bn to be completed in 30 weeks); and domestic-wing apron reconstruction to rigid pavement in three phases—32,100 m², 34,087.5 m² and 16,200 m² for N24.27bn to be completed in 17.5 months.

Keyamo said the works will also extend to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport where runways 06/24 and 05/23 and the taxiway will be rehabilitated with an airfield ground-lighting upgrade to Category II LED to support operations in harmattan and other low-visibility conditions. The project would cost N46.39bn to be completed in 24 weeks.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport will also have runway 03/21 and the taxiway rehabilitated with CAT II lighting to curb weather-related delays. Works would cost N42.14bn.

The Minister added that Council approved the Full Business Case for the 30-year concession of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, including its unfinished cargo terminal, following an unsolicited proposal by the Aero Alliance Consortium.

He said detailed terms will be published after documentation and emphasised transparency and union participation throughout the process.

The Council also approved two major electrification projects worth a combined N213.7bn to improve energy access in universities, teaching hospitals, and rural communities across Nigeria.

Briefing journalists after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the first project, valued at N145bn, inclusive of 7.5 percent VAT, is for the engineering, procurement, and construction of power systems under the Energising Education Programme, implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency.  It will also be funded through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund and is expected to be delivered within seven to nine months.

Adelabu said the EEP will ease the energy burden on Nigeria’s public universities and tertiary teaching hospitals by providing reliable, renewable power supply.

The minister noted that many institutions have faced severe electricity challenges, leading to blackouts and industrial actions, as they struggle to meet exorbitant utility bills from distribution companies.

“The absence of reliable power in most institutions has grown into a crisis. This initiative will bring relief to educational and medical institutions and improve the quality of education and healthcare delivery,” Adelabu said.

The eight institutions to benefit from this phase of the programme include the University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan; University College Hospital, Ibadan; Federal University, Dutse in Jigawa State; and Federal University, Wukari in Taraba State.

The minister added that the new projects build on earlier interventions executed with World Bank support, which have already delivered solar power installations to several universities, including the University of Abuja (3 megawatts), University of Maiduguri (12MW), University of Calabar (8MW), Nigerian Defence Academy (2.6MW), and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (5MW).

“These institutions are now operating without disruption to electricity supply. The new funding is intended to accelerate deployment to more campuses”, he said.

The second project, valued at N68.7bn including VAT, is for the procurement and deployment of renewable energy infrastructure under the REA’s Agricultural Centres of Excellence initiative. The programme aims to bring solar-powered electricity to rural communities and agribusiness clusters where grid access is unavailable. It is expected to be completed within three months.

According to Adelabu, the rural electrification project is designed not only to provide lighting for homes but also to power agro-processing activities and other productive uses to boost rural livelihoods.