Federal Gov’t Approves N1.455trn For Road Projects

The Federal government has approved series of road construction projects across various states of the Federation totalling over N1.455 trillion.

Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday.

Umahi said these projects spanning thirteen states include those that were deferred during the July 10 meeting due to funding shortages.

The approved projects include the rehabilitation of the Abeokuta-Iboro-Ilaro Road in Ogun State, valued at N57 billion; Mubi to Maiduguri Road Section three, worth N89 billion; and Mubi to Maiduguri Section Two, valued at N67 billion.

Other projects include the Benin-Akure-Ilesha Road, valued at N525 billion; Benin-Akure, by Ilesha, at N286 billion; and Angingali-Udobi-Udona-Umo-Uwana-Ubalaka in Imo State, at N26.46 billion.

The Council also approved the Aba-Owerri Road rehabilitation project valued at N21 billion.

Similarly, the Council also approved projects in Cross Rivers State valued at N79 billion; Enugu-Port Harcourt, N83 billion; Igomu Bridge, N19.87 billion; Umuahia to Aba, N90 billion; and the Ore-Ondo-Akure Road valued at N134 billion.

Additionally, the Council also approved the sum of N27.9 billion fir the Ofin-Oreta Road in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

In healthcare, the FEC approved the purchase of 7,887 dialysis consumables to improve access for Nigerians with kidney diseases.

Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Work, Prof. Ali Pate said this approval aimed to combat the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

“These consumables will be distributed across seven federal tertiary hospitals, including the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital in Abuja,” Pate noted.

He emphasised the importance of prevention and announced plans for public health screenings and lifestyle modifications to reduce future kidney disease cases.

Pate elaborated, “In continuation of the President’s efforts to reduce healthcare costs and address non-communicable diseases, the Council approved the purchase of 7,887 sets of dialysis consumables for seven federal tertiary hospitals.

“These hospitals include the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, the Federal Medical Center in Ebute- Metta, the Federal Medical Center in Owerri, the National Hospital in Abuja, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, the University Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.”

During his briefing, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, announced three key memos approved by FEC aimed at combating crime and corruption.

These include agreements with Spain on the exchange of information, apprehending fugitives, and transferring convicted individuals to serve sentences in their home countries.

Fagbemi said, “These measures ensure that criminals cannot evade justice, reinforcing the government’s commitment to a robust legal framework.”