FEC approves N660bn for 14 road projects across Nigeria

The federal executive council (FEC) has approved the rehabilitation and construction of 14 road projects across Nigeria worth N660.26 billion.

David Umahi, minister of works, spoke at the end of the council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Umahi said the council approved contracts for multiple projects, including variations of some projects, the rehabilitation and construction of various roads.

The approved projects include the Aakalari-Ukuk road in Bauchi, which involves a rescoping variation for rehabilitation with a total cost of N11.27 billion for phase one, expected to be completed within six months.

FEC also approved the Uturu-Isuikwuato-Akara road in Abia state.

Umahi said the project also involves a review and rescoping, with phase one to be completed within six months at a cost of N5.92 billion.

Also, a major contract worth N198 billion was awarded for the construction of a road from Zaria to Katsina states, with a construction period of 36 months.

Another is the Kano to Maiduguri road, for which Umahi said a section of the road was awarded to Tractor Nigeria Limited after competitive bidding, with a total contract sum of N128.39 billion and a construction period of 18 months.

Others are Bagudu road in Kebbi state (N2.64 billion), Obanewi Arisizogu to Okiwe road in Imo and Anambra states (N8.45 billion), Enyi Ilawe Ekiti road (N15.62 billion), and Ilogu road in Kwara and Osun states (N7.55 billion) for phase one, to be completed within six months.

Also approved is Wukari-Aquana road in Taraba state (N12.61 billion) with a construction period of 12 months; Bida-Lapaya-Lambata road (N39.49 billion) in Niger state with a construction period of six months for phase one; and Gada-Zamazuru-Gamji road in Kebbi  (N11.97 billion) for a construction period of six months.

The minister also mentioned Kamakish road in Oyo state for rescoping and variation, with a construction period of 12 months and a contract sum of N12.35 billion.

“Outer Marina Shore Protection in Lagos: The project, initially procured for N144 billion, was reviewed to N176 billion to include additional shoreline protection for federal institutions,” Umahi said.

“Aba-Ikot Ekepene Road: The first phase of this dualisation project was approved with a review contract sum of N30 billion.”

Umahi said the council emphasised the importance of prioritising inherited projects based on available funds to ensure timely completion and protect already completed works from deterioration.

FEC TO SHIFT FOCUS FROM PROCUREMENT TO POLICY DISCUSSIONS 

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, announced FEC’s plans to shift focus from procurement debates to policy discussions during its deliberations.

Idish said the government is working towards ensuring that only contract awards exceeding a certain financial threshold will be brought before the council for consideration. 

He said the change is intended to streamline the decision-making process and allow the FEC to concentrate on broader policy issues that impact national development.

According to Idris, the decision is still in its formative stages, as no final decision has been made regarding the specific threshold for contracts that would require FEC approval.

“If you observed, all the memos presented here, largely related to procurements and so we want that to be decongested at the federal executive council level, to give room for more detailed discussions on policy issues and reduce some of these memos coming by increasing the threshold of those procurement processes to be executed at the ministerial level,” he said.

“So FEC thought that it is good to review that so that more time will be given to policy discussions at different executive meetings.

“In other words, increasing the threshold for ministers and other MDAs to execute contracts or procurements at their ministerial, departmental levels, agencies level.

“So the idea is that it’s not yet conclusive what the final decisions are, but there is a very fruitful debate led by the chairman of council, Mr President himself, to review that so that we can have more time for policy discussions at the FEC meetings.

“Like I said, this is still a work in progress. The director-general of the BPP and other ministers have been asked to work on that, and a report will be given to the council for final approval by Mr President very soon.”

On October 16, 2023, Tinubu approved the conduct of the FEC weekly meeting to be held every Monday.

However, the weekly FEC meeting, which is presided over by the president and attended by cabinet members as well as other top aides to the president, is still being held every Wednesday.