NNPCL Gets N1.9trn Approval To Construct 44 Roads

The federal government has approved the sum of N1.9 trillion for the reconstruction of 44 proposed federal roads, totaling 4,554 kilometers in length.

The approval of the road project, which is to be executed by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd, followed a proposal by the Ministry of Works and Housing.

The senior special assistant to the vice president on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the federal executive council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa.

Akande who briefed on behalf of the minister, Babatunde Fashola, said the council approved the recommendation to invest in the reconstruction of selected federal roads by the federal government, road infrastructure development and refurbishment investment tax credit policy, phase two, by the NNPCL.

He said following the issuance of requisite Full Business Case (FBC) Compliance Certificates by Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRCN) FEC also approved 25-year Concessions for the following Nine (9) Road Corridors under the pilot phase of the Highway Development and Management Initiative.

He said, “The roads that will be under this first phase are the Benin-Asaba corridor; Abuja-Lokoja-Onitsha-Owerri-Aba-Shagamu-to Benin; Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi; Kano-Maiduguri; Enugu-Port Harcourt; Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta, and Lagos-Badagry-Seme.”

He noted that the works and housing ministry also got council’s approval for the augmentation of contract for the rehabilitation of the Osogbo-Ilesha Road phase one, Ilesha-Osogbo in Osun State in favor of Messers Orizon construction company in the sum of N1.2 billion, thereby revising the subsisting contract sum from N3billion to N4 billion, representing an increase of 33% of the original sum.”

On his part, the minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, said FEC also approved the procurement of 31 project vehicles for the hydrocarbon pollution remediation projects in Ogoni land.

He said, “Recall that last year in December, the Federal Executive Council approved some projects for Ogoni people and remediation of some polluted sites.

“So, in view of this development, and because of the desire to ensure effective supervision of this project, particularly the five water schemes and the 16 upcoming water schemes and the proposed shoreline remediation, and also the proposed centers of excellences to be built within Ogoni land, and in view of the fact that we are going to inspect on a regular basis experts from outside the country, there’s a need to provide project vehicles so that they can effectively inspect, supervise and monitor the remediation exercise.

 “FEC today approved the sum of N1,354,016,250 only in favor of Messers Mujav automobile Nigeria limited to provide 31 number of vehicles for the project.

“These include one 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus, one 30-seater Toyota coaster bus; they’re all supposed to be 2022 models; then 11 Toyota Hilux double cabin four wheel drive, 2022 model, diesel engine; 15 numbers Toyota Hilux double cabin four wheel drive, diesel and petrol engine also 2022 models; one Toyota Landcruiser twin turbo 2022 model and lastly two units of Land Cruiser V6 Prada for the projects.

“Only 31 vehicles were approved for the hydrocarbon pollution remediation project to ensure effective supervision of the project, particularly delimitation sites.”