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The Federal Government has approved more than N840 billion for the rehabilitation of the 82-kilometer Section II of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, which spans across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kaduna, and Kano States. This funding also covers the construction of the Bodo-Bonny road, including bridges over the Opobo Channel in Rivers State.
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, disclosed the approval during a meeting with representatives from the main contractor, Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc, in Abuja. The meeting was outlined in a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Orji Uchenna Orji.
During the meeting, Umahi urged Julius Berger to expedite work on the projects, highlighting the importance placed on these developments by both President Bola Tinubu and the citizens who rely on the roads. He explained that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a re-scoping and downward review of the contract for the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, as well as the total cost and augmentation for the Bodo-Bonny road.
The revised contract amounts to N740.8 billion for the Abuja-Kano project and N80.1 billion for the Bodo-Bonny road. Umahi emphasized the need for contractors to consider Nigeria’s economic challenges during price negotiations and warned against attempts to increase the contract sums.
Umahi called on Julius Berger to mobilize multiple teams to ensure the completion of the Abuja-Zaria-Kano project within 14 months and the Bodo-Bonny road within 12 months. He also stressed the importance of timely work and added that the government would provide advance payments to support the completion of the projects.
The meeting concluded with the formal handover of the Letters of Award for the reviewed projects to Julius Berger, with specific terms, including the non-transferable and fixed nature of the contracts.
