The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, has said that 25,000 kilometres out of the total 35,000 kilometres federal roads are now motorable.
Onolememen, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
He also said that work would soon begin on the expansion of Oshodi-Murtala Mohammed International Airport Expressway, Lagos into eight lanes.
The minister added that all the federal road projects in Borno State had been suspended because of the activities of the Boko Haram insurgency.
He stated, “On the Oshodi-Murtala Mohammed Airport Road in Lagos, the ministry is currently at the detailed project development stage in the planned expansion of the road to an eight-lane expressway with flyovers and pedestrian bridges to ensure a befitting gateway to our country’s foremost commercial city. Early work on this project is expected to commence soon.”
According to him, in 2011, only 5,000 kilometres of the 35,000 kilometres of the federal roads were in a good condition.
He stated, “From about 5,000 kilometres of fair roads in 2011, today about 25,000 kilometres of the 35,000 kilometres of federal roads are now in good and motorable condition.”
The minister disclosed that in 2013, the Federal Government completed nine road projects nationwide, totaling 421.6 kilometers at the cost of N57bn.
The projects, according to him, included Oturkpo-Oweto Road in Benue State; Otukpa-Ayangba-Ajaokuta-Okene Road in Kogi Road; Ningi-Yadagunmgume-Fuskar Mata Road in Bauchi State and Yana-Shira Azare Road also in Bauchi State.
Others are Wukari-Takum Road in Taraba State; Benin-Ore Road in Edo and Ondo states; Enugu-Abakaili Road Enugu and Ebonyi states; Ogoja Junction-Ikom Road in Cross River and Ado-Ilumoba-Agbago-Ikare Road in Ekiti State.
On the insurgency in the North-East, the minister said that it had affected the projects of the ministry.
“All the projects (road projects) of the Federal Government in Borno State have been suspended,” he stated.
Onolememen recalled that Boko Haram killed five workers of the CCC construction company, adding that seven expatriates of Setraco Construction Company were kidnapped by the insurgents, had not regained their freedom.
The minister said that two engineers of the ministry were killed by the insurgents.
He stated that 184 road projects were being undertaking by the Federal Government across the country.
Giving a breakdown, the minister said 30 projects were going on in the North-Central at the cost of N275.6bn. He put the length of the projects at 1,255.1 kilometres. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Mr.Minister what is happening to Enugu - Onisha express road or are the express road not among the federal roads in Nigeria,please that particular routs are claiming so many livies,the federal government should get it sorted and Enugu - Abakailiki express are yet to be completed.
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