…Says highways key to fighting insecurity
President Bola Tinubu has approved 27 major road projects worth over ₦3.9 trillion across 15 states, with the Federal Government saying the massive infrastructure investment is aimed not only at improving transportation and boosting economic growth but also at strengthening national security.
The approvals were announced yesterday by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to Umahi, the projects will be executed across Adamawa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe states.
The Minister also revealed that the FEC approved the re-award of the 409-kilometre Niger State dual carriageway under the tax credit scheme to industrialist Aliko Dangote at a cost of ₦1.8 trillion. Other major approvals include ₦276 billion for the dualisation of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road, ₦265 billion for the reconstruction of the Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road linking Oyo and Kwara states, ₦217 billion for the dualisation of the Ijaye-Federal Government College-Ilorin Road with a spur to Akinmorin, and ₦116 billion for the rehabilitation of the Abakaliki-Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State.
The Council also approved ₦110 billion for the Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road linking Oyo and Osun states, ₦104 billion for the rehabilitation of Sections One and Two of the Ilorin-Omorin-Ebe-Kabba-Obajana Road traversing Kwara and Kogi states, ₦98 billion for the construction of the Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road in Oyo State, and ₦92 billion for the rehabilitation of the Baban-Lamba-Sharan Road in Plateau State. Other projects approved include the reconstruction of the Enugu-Abakaliki Road, the Adikpo-Ajayi-Tese-Akpa-Otukpo Road connecting Benue and Cross River states, the Jimeta-Mayo Belwa Road in Adamawa State, and rehabilitation works on major roads in Oyo, Niger, Taraba, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos and Yobe states.
Umahi said the FEC also approved the full business case for the operation and maintenance concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and directed the immediate reconstruction of failed sections along the Ibadan corridor using concrete pavement. He added that the first 118-kilometre section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway, valued at ₦137 billion, has been completed.
Speaking separately during the flag-off of the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru road project at Muna City Gate in Borno State over the weekend, Umahi said the Tinubu administration is deliberately deploying strategic road infrastructure as a tool to combat insecurity across the country. He explained that improved highways would enhance military operations, reconnect communities disrupted by insurgency, stimulate economic activities and improve access to Nigeria’s border communities.
According to the Minister, the extensive road investments underscore the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s transport infrastructure while using improved connectivity to promote economic development and reinforce security nationwide.
