The Federal Government has announced plans to take over any unfinished sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway if contractors fail to meet the April deadline, as part of efforts to finalize the long-overdue project.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made this disclosure while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Umahi emphasized the government’s determination to commission the project without further delays, stating, “We are poised to take over some parts of the route if they are not completed by April because we need to commission that project.”
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, valued at N213 billion, was split into two phases. While Julius Berger has completed the first phase, RCC is still working on the second.
Umahi revealed that an additional N30 billion is required to complete the remaining sections, including an 8.55-kilometer stretch of the Lagos-bound carriageway.
According to the Minister, “The contract value of what is left is about N4 billion, and then the Lagos-bound section is about 8.55 kilometers, which we re-scoped.
That amount is N22 billion, so you technically have about N30 billion, even though the total value of the project is N213 billion.”
He further confirmed that Arab Contractors are handling the completion of the remaining works on the expressway.
In line with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda for infrastructure development, FEC also approved 14 major road contracts worth N242.148 billion across various states.
Among the notable projects approved are:
Agaye-Kachia-Baro Road (Niger State) – N22 billion awarded to Messrs GR Building Construction Limited.
Odukpani Junction-Apeti section, Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja Road (Cross River State) – N26.335 billion awarded to Samatech.
Abeokuta-Ajibo Spur to Iyana Mosa Road (Ogun State) – N10.89 billion to Messrs HMF Construction Limited.
Inoma-Iyaka-Abaji section, Ibaji-Odulu-Ajibu Road (Anambra State) – N9.33 billion to Niger Cat.
Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia-Umudike (Abia State) – N14.37 billion to Heartland Construction Company.
Kaduna-Jos Road (Phase One, Kaduna and Plateau States) – N33.423 billion to Setraco.
Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road (Adamawa State) – N11.81 billion to Wis China Worldwide Engineering Limited.
Ijebu-Igbotita Road (Ogun State) – N13 billion.
Lamido Road (Taraba State) – N7.68 billion to Messrs Mode Limited.
Nkomoro-Isu Road (Enugu and Ebonyi States) – N14.49 billion to Arab Contractors.
Ikot-Ekpene Border-Aba-Owerri Road Dualization – N11.55 billion to Arab Contractors.
Gashi-Bayamari Road (Section 2, Yobe State) – N9.68 billion to Rick-Rock.
Ikorodu-Shagamu Road (Lagos State) – N27.59 billion to Arab Contractors.
Umahi also revealed that FEC stepped down a proposal for the construction of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) headquarters, requesting further research before reconsideration.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fast-tracking road infrastructure projects across the country, ensuring their timely completion to fulfill President Tinubu’s vision for infrastructural renewal.