The Federal Government has commenced reconstruction of the collapsed Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State, where a tragic incident earlier in July claimed three lives.
Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
He described the collapse as “very unfortunate” and confirmed that the government had settled with the bereaved families.
“We lost three lives there. We have settled with the families, who are not pressing charges. Reconstruction has started,” Umahi said, noting that one carriageway of the flyover has been closed to allow urgent repair works.
He added that structural investigations prompted the closure to prevent further incidents.
The Keffi Flyover, a major link between the Federal Capital Territory and several North-Central states, collapsed on July 4, raising widespread concern over infrastructure safety.
Umahi assured that the Tinubu administration is prioritising accountability and public safety, and urged citizens to support ongoing inspection and monitoring efforts.
He stated that the intervention aligns with the administration’s wider commitment to maintaining the integrity of road and bridge assets nationwide.
At the meeting, FEC also approved significant reviews and funding for essential road and bridge projects across the country as part of Tinubu’s infrastructure overhaul agenda.
Umahi revealed that 360 road rehabilitation projects were completed in 2023, and inspections are currently underway across all geopolitical zones.
He stated that state engineering chambers will now partake in tracking federal projects to enhance transparency and foster collaboration.
He listed several high-value projects, many exceeding ₦10 billion, which have either begun or received significant disbursements, with a detailed list to be published next week.
The minister highlighted key ongoing and approved projects, including:
Abuja Road Lots:
Lot 1: 118 km at ₦275bn (30 per cent disbursed; 30 per cent completed)
Lot 2: 164 km at ₦502bn (₦150bn disbursed for six sections)
Umahi also named major corridor projects, including:
Enugu–Onitsha Road: 72 km at ₦150bn (₦45bn released)
Abuja–Kano Road: ₦220bn (30 per cent disbursed)
Bauchi–Jigawa Road Sections: Fully funded
Nembe–Brass Road: ₦156bn (30 per cent released)
Port Harcourt–Bodo–Bonny Road: 35 km at ₦200bn; near completion
Benin–Ifon–Akure: 108.4 km (30 per cent released)
Akure–Ado-Ekiti: 256 km at ₦761bn (30 per cent released)
The minister announced new approvals and project variations: Biu–Numa Road (Borno/Adamawa):
Revised to ₦61.76bn (from ₦15.4bn), Maraba–Keffi Road (Nasarawa):
43.6 km dualization at ₦76bn, Ikorodu–Sagamu Road (Lagos):
Variation of ₦11.42bn approved for completion, Kashamu–Amshi–Guru–Gurus Road (Yobe):
Revised to ₦23.4bn for binder courses and a new vehicle bridge, Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway:
Kebbi Section: 258 km x2 at ₦1.92tn and Sokoto Section: 120 km x2 at ₦912bn.
Other projects, he said, are Afe Babalola University Access Road (Ekiti):
Revised to 14.4 km at ₦9.32bn due to funding constraints
Trans-Saharan Highway (Oyo–Benue border):
Revised from 180 km to 231.64 km; cost increased to ₦445.8bn due to soil failures and realignment
Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (Sections 4A & 4B):
Ogun & Ondo States: 80.35 km x2 at ₦1.65tn. It includes a 6-meter excavation due to swamp terrain.
Umahi emphasised that these projects are not just infrastructure upgrades but strategic economic drivers expected to impact state GDPs, trade, and national cohesion.
He defended the cost-effectiveness of the contracts and affirmed that the rollout of projects has been equitably distributed across zones.
He stated that the administration remains open to scrutiny and committed to delivering quality infrastructure across the country.
