The Tinubu-led Federal Government has announced a plan to allocate ₦20 billion monthly to Julius Berger Construction Company for the next 14 months to complete an 82 km segment of the Abuja-Kano highway.
Minister of Works David Umahi confirmed that the project will be executed in four sections.
This decision was made during a meeting with the construction company to assess ongoing road contracts, where the minister expressed concern over the limited financial resources available to complete the major road projects he inherited.
Umahi stated that this move aligns with the Federal Executive Council’s directive to address delays in both inherited and new projects caused by price differences and funding issues.
He also highlighted other key road projects the government will focus on, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route, the second phase of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, the Third Mainland Bridge, and the Iddo and Carter Bridges.
In a statement;
“In keeping with the directive of the Federal Executive Council with respect to all inherited and new projects being handled by a number of multinational companies being delayed due to issues of price differentials or poor funding, the Federal Ministry of Works has opened a decisive discussion with Julius Berger Plc on all the inherited and new projects handled by them.
“With a view to appraising their performance and take decisions on funding and milestones completion of all such awarded projects as part of the measures of the Renewed Hope administration to mitigate the suffering of road users at this moment of economic challenges.”
“On the section of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road agreed to be handled by Julius Berger Plc, he commended the quality of work being done but directed the contractor to stick to one carriageway at a time within the scope and conclude their works.”
“The contractor was further directed to, within three weeks, fill the two carriageways with stone base and level it to alleviate the sufferings of road users.”
“He further agreed that the project, within their own corridor, will last for 14 months. Project execution should be deployed in four sections, and we will be paying Berger N20bn every month to get the job completed.”
Adewole Lekan