The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja-Keffi road

  • ‘Abuja-Keffi road to be ready next year’

    ‘Abuja-Keffi road to be ready next year’

    The Federal Government has promised to complete the ongoing Abuja-Keffi road rehabilitation by December 2026.

    The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, gave the assurance while inspecting the Maraba-Nyanyan section site yesterday.

    He said the project, which started in December 2023, spans 43.6 kilometres from the Keffi-bound section, with 41 kilometres completed up to Binda, representing 50 per  cent progress.

    The project, being executed by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme and funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was awarded on April 19, 2023, started on December 20, 2023, and was initially scheduled for completion in May 2026.

    Goronyo described the Abuja-Keffi dual carriageway as one of the busiest routes into the Federal Capital Territory FCT), as it serves thousands of commuters daily.

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    The minister noted that the major challenge facing the project is the Abuja-bound section, particularly a three-kilometre stretch of the road that is prone to flooding.

    “A lot of people coming from the Keffi-Nyanya axis experience serious difficulty crossing into Abuja city. We immediately directed the contractor to put in palliative measures and create a route to ease movement,” he said.

    According to him, work on the section will be carried out mainly at night to reduce traffic disruptions.

    “The contractor must fully mobilise to site. We are not happy with the suffering commuters face daily on this arterial road. It is a key corridor for civil servants and residents, and people must have ease of movement,” Goronyo said.

    The minister, who was accompanied by ministry officials and representatives of the contracting firm, said the government would ensure strict monitoring of the project to guarantee its timely completion.

    “We don’t want to see this problem persist. The contractor must finish within the stipulated period,” Goronyo added.

    The Project Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company, the contractor handling the project, Dong Hong, assured the minister that the firm remained committed to meeting the deadline.

    “We have the confidence to finish this project on time with the highest quality. Much of the work is now being done at night to meet the schedule,” he said.

  • Fed Govt to implement cashless tolling on Abuja-Keffi road

    Fed Govt to implement cashless tolling on Abuja-Keffi road

    • Umahi: We won’t increase Julius Berger’s contract sum

    The Federal Government has initiated steps to implement a cashless tolling system on major highways, starting with the Abuja-Keffi Expressway.

    It will also make the Keffi-Akwanga-Makurdi road a dual way.

    Minister of Works, David Umahi, while inaugurating the Committee in Abuja, explained that the cashless tolling system is a key component of the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), designed to foster a sustainable transportation network across Nigeria.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, the minister stressed the importance of tolling, given the funding structure for several highways and the additional facilities included in the contracts.

    He said the initiative is designed to attract private sector investment to improve Nigeria’s road infrastructure and promote economic growth.

    “The implementation of tolling is necessary to meet the terms of the agreements and maintain the accompanying infrastructure,” he said.

    The committee, which has two weeks to submit its report, includes members from the Federal Ministries of Works, Finance, Budget and National Planning, and Justice, as well as the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

    Read Also: Protest: Abuja-Keffi road deserted as protesters take control

    The Head of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) unit at the Ministry of Finance, Jummai Katagum, will serve as the Chair, while Ugwu-Chima Nnennaya from the Ministry of Works will act as the Secretary.

    Also yesterday, Umahi said the Federal Government would not increase the contract sum for a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway being handled by Julius Berger.

    Speaking during the inauguration of rehabilitation of the highway, the minister said: “Berger said to do this entire job, it needs N1.5trillion. We started negotiation in September, last year, writing letters every week.

    “To save time, we presented the option of balkanising the road into three which the President approved. When we did that, Berger accepted it and the rate N710billion.

    “Later, they came back that they wanted an increase to N740billion, we went to FEC and they approved, only for them last week to say they need another increase to N903billion.

    “Even if we accept it, other contractors will want the same and it will increase the project to about N4billion per kilometre, which is on asphalt.

    “Our position is that we are not increasing this project for Julius Berger beyond N740 billion. The game is over.

    “If they are not doing it, we will give it to those that will do it on the same quality of the coaster road at a cheaper rate…”

    “They have put the project into politics, so they are using it to de-market our administration and we say enough is enough.”