Rebuilding Begins After Fatal Collapse
The Federal Government has commenced reconstruction of the Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State, which collapsed on July 4, resulting in the death of three persons. The announcement was made by the Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi, following the Federal Executive Council meeting held on Thursday and chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Umahi described the incident as very unfortunate and confirmed that compensation has been provided to the affected families.
“We lost three lives there. We have settled with the families. They are not pressing charges. Reconstruction has commenced,” the minister stated.Critical Carriageway Shut for Repairs
To ensure public safety, Umahi disclosed that one carriageway of the flyover has been closed for urgent repairs, based on structural assessments to prevent further hazards. The flyover serves as a vital link connecting Abuja, Nasarawa, and other parts of Nigeria’s north-central region.
FEC Approves Massive Funding for Infrastructure Projects
During the meeting, Umahi revealed that the Federal Executive Council has approved funding and scope reviews for several strategic road and bridge projects across the country. He noted that in 2023 alone, a total of 360 road rehabilitation projects were completed, and inspections are currently ongoing across all six geopolitical zones.
In a move to improve transparency and accountability, the minister stated that state engineering chambers will now be involved in monitoring federal road projects within their respective states.
Major Projects and Disbursements
Umahi outlined a long list of key infrastructure projects, many of which exceed ₦10 billion in value and have already received substantial disbursements:
• Abuja Road Lot 1: 118 km at ₦275bn – 30 per cent disbursed and completed
• Abuja Road Lot 2: 164 km at ₦502bn – ₦150bn released for six sections
• Enugu–Onitsha Road: 72 km at ₦150bn – ₦45bn released
• Abuja–Kano Road: ₦220bn – 30 per cent disbursed
• Bauchi–Jigawa Sections: Fully funded
• Nembe–Brass Road: ₦156bn – 30 per cent released
• Port Harcourt–Bodo–Bonny Road: 35 km, near completion, at ₦200bn
• Benin–Ifon–Akure Road: 108.4 km – 30 per cent disbursed
• Akure–Ado-Ekiti Road: 256 km at ₦761bn – 30 per cent released
Revised and Newly Approved Projects
Several major projects have been revised upward or newly approved:
• Biu–Numa Road (Borno/Adamawa): Revised from ₦15.4bn to ₦61.76bn
• Maraba–Keffi Road (Nasarawa): 43.6 km dualisation at ₦76bn
• Ikorodu–Sagamu Road (Lagos): ₦11.42bn variation approved for completion
• Kashamu–Amshi–Guru–Gurus Road (Yobe): ₦23.4bn for binder courses and a new vehicle bridge
Superhighway and Coastal Highway Projects
• Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway:
- Kebbi Section: 258 km x2 at ₦1.92tn
- Sokoto Section: 120 km x2 at ₦912bn
• Afe Babalola University Access Road (Ekiti): 14.4 km revised to ₦9.32bn due to funding gaps
• Trans-Saharan Highway (Oyo–Benue border): Extended from 180 km to 231.64 km, revised to ₦445.8bn due to soil failures and realignment
• Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (Sections 4A and 4B in Ogun and Ondo): 80.35 km x2 at ₦1.65tn, including 6-metre swamp excavation
Full Project List to Be Published
Umahi concluded by assuring that the ministry will soon release a comprehensive list of all ongoing and approved federal road projects across the country. This, he said, is to enhance public access to information and foster accountability.
The scale and scope of these projects reflect a determined push by the federal government to modernise Nigeria’s transport infrastructure, a sector long plagued by underfunding and neglect. However, analysts warn that cost inflation, delays, and poor supervision could undermine progress unless state-level stakeholders and watchdog bodies are fully engaged throughout the project lifecycle. The inclusion of state engineering chambers in oversight is seen as a welcome shift toward collaborative governance.
