FEC approves N594.49b for roads as Nigeria, others seek funding for regional highway
FEC approves N594.49b for roads as Nigeria, others seek funding for regional highway
• Umahi to chair regional talks on financing 1,028km corridor
• Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway to get solar-powered streetlights
Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved eight road projects worth N594.49 billion across the country, while Nigeria and four other West African nations pursue financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for their respective sections of the proposed 1,028-kilometre Lagos-Abidjan highway.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of yesterday’s FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Umahi said ministers from Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire would meet on Friday to discuss financing arrangements for the regional highway, with him chairing the meeting.
Under the proposed arrangement, the AfDB would provide funding to participating countries to develop their respective sections of the transnational corridor, although the financing remains subject to the outcome of the discussions and the bank’s arrangements.
Nigeria’s section, stretching from Tincan Island in Lagos to the Seme border with the Republic of Benin, covers 79 kilometres. The other sections comprise 89 kilometres in Togo, 576 kilometres in Ghana, 155 kilometres in Côte d’Ivoire and 128 kilometres in Benin Republic.
The proposed highway is expected to strengthen cross-border connectivity, facilitate the movement of goods and support trade and economic integration across West Africa.
On the domestic front, Umahi said the council approved eight road projects with contract sums ranging from N11.33 billion to N209 billion, alongside remedial works on deteriorated sections of the East-West Road.
Among the approved projects is the 18-kilometre Amaseri Road, from Ishagu to Otakot on the Enugu Expressway, awarded at N20.257 billion.
The council also approved N11.33 billion for the third phase of the Umuahia-Bende-Afikpo Road in Abia State, with about five kilometres remaining under the Federal Government’s scope.
Umahi explained that the project had previously been funded under the NNPC tax-credit scheme, but work stalled after the funding arrangement was discontinued.
He said the project was subsequently rescoped, while the Abia State Government undertook to construct the remaining 43 kilometres.
In Kogi State, the council approved the reconstruction of the 95-kilometre E2K-Okey-Ampa-Otopa Road at N160 billion.
It also approved N209 billion for the 81.1-kilometre Ado-Ekiti-Ijan-Ilumoba-Ikole Road in Ekiti State, including a bridge.
The contract was awarded to CBC.
Other approvals include the 17-kilometre Sokoto-Illela Road, Route A1, at N28.218 billion, awarded to Kespeko Global Limited, and a 30-kilometre road linking Adamawa and Taraba states, with five bridges, at N62 billion. The latter contract was awarded to WeChina Nigeria Limited.
On the East-West Road, Umahi said the council considered remedial works on sections that had deteriorated partly because the road was constructed years ago and now lay below flood level.
The FEC meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the newly appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, whose appointment took effect on August 27, 2026.
