Fed Govt will Fix Roads for Ember Months– Fashola

Hon. Minister of Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola,SAN (left) and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kolo Kyari (right) during a courtesy visit and meeting to discuss issues relating to improvement of service delivery to citizens at the Minister’s Office, Ministry of Works & Housing Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja on Monday, 23rd September 2019.

Critical roads across the country, particularly those leading to fuel depots would soon be fixed in order to enhance fuel distribution and ease the usual high traffic during the ember months.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN assured Nigerians in his office in Abuja on Monday while responding to a request by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for urgent intervention by the Ministry on some roads leading to fuel depots without the distribution of petroleum products during the festive months could be seriously hampered.

The Minister, said that arrangements were being put in place to fix such roads and a number of those which conditions had deteriorated as a result of heavy rainfalls,.

He listed such selected roads to include Suleja-Bida-Lapai-Lambata; Oyo–Ogbomosho-Ilorin; Jebba-Mokwa-Tegina; Benin-Sapele-Warri; Benin-Auchi-Okenne; Enugu-Onitsha; Awka-Amansea and Odukpani-Itu roads.

Fashola further explained that, the Suleja-Lambata-Minna Road was in a fairly good condition adding that the failed portions were slated for emergency repairs during the ember month’s programme.

Fashola added that work is ongoing on the Bida-Lapai-Lambata Roads where the contractor handling it has already stabilized a substantial part of the road.

The Bida–Minna Road, the Minister explained, is a Niger State Government Road and is in a fairly good condition while the Suleja –Lambata –Minna Road; is a Federal Government road under SUKUK funding.

According to the minister, his Ministry had commenced discussions with the contractors handling the various road projects for the commencement of repair and rehabilitation works as soon as the rains subside.

Fashola said approval has been given for the Engineering Corps of the Nigerian Army to repair the bad portions of the Bokani-Makaera-Tegina-Birnin Gwari Road in Niger and Kaduna States, which is currently under procurement, due to the security situation in that axis.

Funding, Fashola explained, has also been a challenge, adding that the Federal Government would endeavour to meet its financial obligations to the contractors handling the various road projects to ensure that they returned to the sites.

On the Oyo-Ogbomosho-Ilorin Road, the Minister said work is on-going by the contractor handling the project, which, he explained, is one of the projects that received dedicated funding under SUKUK.

According to him, although the project is being challenged by the current weather situation and funding, the old alignment of the Oyo-Ogbomosho route is receiving palliative attention.

On the Ilorin –Jebba –Mokwa Road, which is under a dualization contract, Fashola explained that the project has been divided into two sections ie Ilorin –Jebba in Kwara State as Section1; and Jebba–Mokwa–Bokani Junction in Niger State as Section II.

For Okene–Lokoja Road, which is in four sections and under SUKUK funding, he explained that all the contractors handling the various sectionshave been directed to do palliative work on the failed portions of the road.

He said while a Federal Government appointed contractor is currently working on the Enugu –Onitsha Road, the bad portions of the Awka –Amansea Road are being repaired by the Anambra State Government.

For the Odukpani –Itu Road, the Minister said the contracting firm which is handling the project, has left the site as a result of the challenges of the weather situation and funding adding that the Ministry is currently intensifying efforts to address the challenges for the company to return to site as soon as possible.