The Federal Government approved a total of N1.02 trillion for major road construction projects and health-care infrastructure on Wednesday, including N74.51 billion for an upgrade of the East-West Road connecting Port Harcourt to the Onne Port Junction in Rivers State and N302.30 billion for a new National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment Center in Abuja. The approvals were disclosed by Bello Goronyo, Minister of State for Works, and Prof Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja following the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. Goronyo said the Ministry of Works presented seven memos to the council, all of which were approved.
Among the road contracts ratified was the reconstruction of the Ado-Ekiti-Iyin-Aramoko-Itawure-Osun State border road, awarded to Messrs CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nigeria Limited at N159.83bn, with a completion period of 24 months.
Council also ratified variation orders for the rehabilitation of the Abeokuta-Iboro-Ilaro Road in Ogun State, changing the pavement structure from rigid concrete to flexible asphalt, awarded to Messrs Strabic Construction Limited at N54.118bn.
On the East-West Road, Goronyo said, “There is a section that is very bad now, and we believe with the approval of FEC now, it will go a long way in maintaining that road and make the place more conducive for our travellers and for the transportation of goods and services.”
Messrs. RCC Nigeria Limited was granted N74.51 billion for the 15-kilometer Phase II upgrade, which covers the Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction) to Onne Port Junction stretch, with a nine-month completion period.
Additionally, the Council approved the construction of the Ilara-Iselu Road, Phases II–V, in Ogun State, awarded to Messrs. JRB Construction Company Limited at N94.24 billion with a 24-month completion period, and the Phase II rehabilitation of the Ado-Ekiti-Afe Babalola University Road along the Ado-Ijan/Iluomoba-Imesi Ondo State border in Ekiti State, awarded to Messrs. S&M Nigeria Limited at N54.52 billion.
According to Goronyo, the Council also approved three Public-Private Partnership concessions for highway operations and trailer parks, which will be fully supported by the concessionaires using the Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Maintain/Transfer methodology.
These included the Suleja-Minna (Dikko-Maje) 7.9km road, awarded to Messrs Graciatech Engineering Nigeria Limited at N56.751bn over a 40-year concession period; the Operate and Maintain concession of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, awarded to Messrs LIB Concession Group at N96.425bn over 25 years; and the Greenfield Trailer Park in Aro-Ngwa, Abia State, awarded to Messrs Greg Jane International Limited at N19.703bn over a 50-year concession.
On health, Pate disclosed a series of approvals for the National Hospital Abuja, describing the facility’s condition as long overdue for attention. Pate revealed that the council approved a new administrative management block for the hospital, awarded to Visible Construction Limited at N18.74bn; the construction of modular clinics and theatres across various specialties, awarded to Strabik Construction Limited at N64.92bn; a high-end wing awarded to CBC Global Civil Construction Nigeria Limited at N133bn, with a 24-month completion period; and a dedicated Neuroscience Institute, also awarded to CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Limited, at N69bn.
The minister stated that the council approved the design, construction, furnishing, equipment, supervision, and commissioning of a flagship National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment Center, awarded to CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nigeria Limited at N302.30 billion with a 36-month completion period, building on the administration's previous investment in cancer treatment centers in Katsina, Benin, and Enugu.
"These two significant investments are really modernizing the infrastructure landscape for the health sector, which will serve Nigerians and hopefully make it less likely for Nigerians to have to travel long distances to get the care they need," he disclosed. Pate contended that the contracts adhered to the Bureau of Public Procurement's due process requirements.
