By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has signed Memoranda of Understanding and contract agreements for eight major road projects across the country, with the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, declaring that investors are already seeking opportunities to refund government expenditure and toll some of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s flagship highway projects.
According to an official signed statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works on Media, Francis Nwaze, the signing ceremonies held on May 13 and 14 at the Federal Ministry of Works Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, marked another milestone in the Tinubu administration’s drive to modernise Nigeria’s road infrastructure and stimulate economic growth through strategic investments.
Speaking during the event, Senator Umahi described the projects as part of the enduring legacy of President Tinubu’s administration, stressing that the government was committed to delivering durable infrastructure capable of transforming economic activities nationwide.
“Today is another event that adds to the great work that President Bola Tinubu is doing,” Umahi stated.
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government had already procured the first 123 kilometres single carriageway of the Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Super Highway from Calabar through Ebonyi State to the Benue border, while the newly signed section covers an additional 173 kilometres traversing Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States up to the Oweto Bridge.
He further revealed that government would soon procure the second carriageway stretching about 300 kilometres from Ndibe Beach to Oweto in Nasarawa State.
Umahi said the Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Super Highway would drastically reduce travel time between the South East and Abuja, cutting the journey to about three to four hours while boosting commerce and regional connectivity.
“I want to say this without any apology the SouthEast People will reciprocate what the President has done for the people. What happened in 2023 was an accident of history and in 2027, we will show our appreciation,” he said.
“I was a governor, I was a deputy governor and we never witnessed federal government projects in SouthEast but today, we may not be the first, or the second or the third but definitely, we are not the last.”
He added, “With this project, any part of the SouthEast you are, you will be in Abuja in 3 to 4 hours. And this is a plus to our commercial activities.”
The Minister explained that five companies competed for the Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Super Highway contract before Infouest emerged successful, noting that the same transparent procurement model was adopted for the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project.
On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said the project had evolved from widespread skepticism to becoming a national symbol of economic transformation.
“When we started the coastal highway, 750km, people did not believe that it would be a reality. And some that knew that it would be a reality, out of envy and jealousy, started to criticize the project,” he said.
“But today, the entire country is waving their flags for President Bola Tinubu because that project is a beauty to behold. It is an economic catalyst for the nation, Nigeria.”
According to him, by November, motorists would be able to travel from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos through Sections One, Two and part of Section Four into Ondo State on completed portions of the highway.
He disclosed that Sections 3A and 3B in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States were progressing, while work had also commenced on Section Five spanning 165.6 kilometres.
Describing the coastal highway as a strategic national investment, Umahi said the project was designed to endure for decades with minimal maintenance requirements.
“This is not just a road project. I have always said that this is an investment that the President is doing, and this is a road that is going to last for another hundred years with no maintenance,” he stated.
The Minister commended HITEC Construction Company for its speed and delivery capacity, saying the firm had demonstrated the ability to construct up to one kilometre of road daily.
Addressing concerns over project costs, Umahi explained that the highways incorporated extensive engineering features including reinforced concrete pavement, drainage systems, culverts and road architecture.
“And for those who are asking us about cost per kilometer, we will be talking now at an average cost per kilometer, which is about N7.5b for a standard carriageway,” he explained.
“But this one is even with a lot of road architecture. You see the concrete poles, the drainage, the culverts, the reinforcement, the pavement. So it is not just a road. This is an investment.”
The Minister further revealed that investors had already begun indicating strong interest in the completed sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
“Just like in section one that we finished in Lagos, a lot of investors are begging to be given that section for them to toll and then give back our money even before they start tolling,” Umahi disclosed.
“So it is an investment, and it is only a person like President Bola Tinubu that can do this.”
Speaking on the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Umahi said Section IV covering the Oyo axis spans 360 kilometres and reflects the administration’s commitment to equitable infrastructure distribution across the six geopolitical zones.
“The President is President for the entire country. His four legacy projects are dotted throughout the six geopolitical zones,” he said.
He also highlighted progress on the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Road project, noting that President Tinubu directed that the original asphalt design be replaced with concrete pavement to guarantee durability.
“The President said, ‘No, we want to do concrete road so that when we build it, it will last for a hundred years,’” Umahi stated.
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government would provide 30 percent counterpart funding for the projects while the remaining 70 percent would be financed through loans. He added that tolling arrangements and strategic land acquisition along the highway corridors would ensure sustainable returns on investment.
The four legacy project sections signed include the Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Superhighway Section II covering Ebonyi State Border through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States; Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway Section IV in Oyo State; Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Section V in Akwa Ibom State; and the dualisation of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Road Section II from Gombe to Biu.
Other projects signed include the reconstruction of the Mando-Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State by Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited; dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode Road in Oyo and Ogun States by Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited; construction of the Osogbo-Ikirun-Akoda Road in Osun State by Messrs Truecrete Solutions Limited; and construction of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road in Osun and Oyo States by Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, described the signing ceremony as the successful conclusion of the procurement process and the formal commencement of implementation.
Responding on behalf of the contractors, Chief Executive Officer of HITEC Construction Company, Dany Abboud, assured the Federal Government of timely project delivery and quality execution.
“Our commitment is always on the table. We are committed to delivering those jobs before the thirty-six months that were awarded,” Abboud said.
“We commit to delivering a standard even better than what we have done on Coastal Highway Section One.”
