The government has allocated N820bn for the completion of the rehabilitation work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway and the Bodo-Bonny road, along with bridges over the Opobo Channel. This decision was communicated by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Works in a recent statement.
The Federal Executive Council approved the re-scoping and cost adjustment of the contracts for these projects. The total contract sum for the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway and the construction of the Bodo-Bonny road now stands at N740,797,204,713.25 and N80,076,361,036.13, respectively.
The Minister emphasized the importance of efficient completion by the contractors, urging them to consider the economic challenges facing the country. He stressed the need for timely mobilization across different project sections to ensure completion within 14 months.
Efforts have been made to negotiate fair prices for the projects, taking into account the economic conditions. There is a firm stance on not increasing the contract sums beyond the approved amounts. The Minister has expressed willingness to provide additional mobilization funds to demonstrate the government’s commitment to project completion.
The Minister also highlighted the need for swift action on the projects, especially the Bodo-Bonny road, outlining a timeline for completion and proposing advance payments to facilitate smooth progress amid potential inflation and variations.