FG to complete ₦252b Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road rehabilitation in 14 months

The Federal Government has assured that the ₦252.89 billion contract for the rehabilitation of Section I of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway recently rewarded to Messrs Infouest Nigeria Limited will be completed within 12–14 months.

It explained that the contract initially awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (JBN) was terminated due to delays, cost escalations, and unmet obligations.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, who disclosed this on Thursday evening, during the inspection of the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, confirmed that the contract with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc was officially terminated on November 21, 2024, following due process.

The Minister assured Nigerians that the project w be completed within 12–14 months, funded by the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund.

Umahi explained that the 375km dual-carriageway project was inherited from the previous administration and initially divided into three sections: Section I (Abuja-Kaduna: 165km), Section II (Kaduna-Zaria: 73.4km), and Section III (Zaria-Kano: 137km).

“Originally awarded to four contractors, the project was consolidated under Julius Berger Nigeria Plc in 2017 with an expected completion date of May 2021. The contract sum, initially ₦155 billion, was revised to ₦797 billion in 2021. However, by August 2023, only 68% of the work (510km) had been completed at a cost of ₦391 billion,” he said.

READ ALSO:Widows, Legion differ on Armed Forces emblem funds in Kano

The minister stated that before the termination of the Julius Berger Contract in September 2023, Julius Berger requested an additional ₦1.5 trillion to complete the project, a proposed increase of 88% that the Ministry of Works deemed unreasonable, adding that prolonged negotiations failed to yield progress, prompting the Ministry to issue a 14-day termination notice.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said, “The federal government, under Mr. President, is very serious about completing this project as soon as possible.

“We regret the challenges, as the minister has mentioned, but we are pleased with the report provided by the minister that these bottlenecks, both administrative and otherwise, have been successfully addressed.

“We are hopeful that, as the minister stated, Mr. President will hold the Ministry accountable to the goals set for the successful completion of this important project.”