Rehabilitation And Expansion Of Lagos–Badagry Expressway: Funding Substantially Addressed – Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, H.E. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN during his working inspection tour of the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos – Badagry Expressway while fielding questions from  journalists remarked,   “The main problem on the Lagos –Badagry expressway project was always funding and budget , now that has been substantially addressed with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Road Infrastructure Tax Credit  Scheme and the contractor is progressing with the project  as we can see.” ‘’The Lagos –Badagry route is part of the Lagos –Abidjan highway which is about 1,048 Kilometres. It is also a very strategic investment Nigeria is making as Nigeria’s contribution to West African Trade and also for the local community,” he explained. During the inspection, while interacting with the Oni Ibereko of  Ibereko 1, Oba Israel Adewale Okoya, Fashola urged the King to discourage some members of the communities from carting away construction materials meant for the road embankment for personal use, and to also tell his subjects  in the area to stop trading by the road side. The Minister advised the Management of the Contractor handling the road project, China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited to employ more staff and get more equipment in order to speed up the progress of work on the road before the weather condition and other factors start to impede the progress on the construction work. One of the Community Chiefs in the area, Oni Ibereko of  Ibereko 1, Oba Israel Adewale Okoya speaking earlier said “ The completed portion of the road has brought succor to the people. In the past Badagry to Agbara used to be a journey of about four to five hours but the travel time is now less than 30 minutes, and the contractor keep working on the road , we are so happy. I thank President Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of our own son Babatunde Raji Fashola.” The Oba assured the Minister that he would have meeting with his fellow chiefs and elders in the communities to ensure that the people stop trading by the road side and those carting away building materials would be handed over to the police if they failed to heed warning. ...

FG Reaffirms Commitment To Complete Idukpani- Itu - Ikot Ekpene Road In 2023 ... East-west Road bridge section iv will be ready soon The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing the ongoing dualization and rehabilitation of the Odukpani - Itu - Ikot Ekpene road in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. The Director, Highway Construction and Rehabilitation of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engineer Folorunsho Esan made the reaffirmation on Thursday, June 16, 2022 during the inspection of work on the 83 .3 kilometres road being handled by Julius Berger, SERMATEC and CCECC companies. The Director however called on the State governments to prevail on its people who have structures on the right of way to remove them in order not to frustrate the effort of the contractors so that the roads can be delivered on target since the land belongs to the state government. Engineer Essan said, " The challenges are mainly on the right of way, people have their structures on the right of way and this will delay the work, the land belongs to the states, they are the owners of the land, they are the ones that can talk to them so that we can have space to work". He disclosed that funding is not a problem as the road is being funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) under the Federal Government Tax Credit Scheme. The Director expressed satisfaction at the pace of work by Julius Berger and SERMATECK companies while urging CCECC to improve on its pace of work. The Federal Controller of Works in Cross River State, Engineer Bassey Nsentip said the contractors have the equipment and are willing to work, adding that the road project include five bridges and several culverts. Engineer Bakari Kehinde and Engineer Joseph Ukpata, site engineers of Julius Berger and SERMATECK respectively also called on the state governments to help in resolving the problem of the right of way. Similarly, Engineer Esan informed newsmen that the bridge on section iv of the east-west road in Akwa Ibom state will be opened to traffic soon He said, " The contractor is working on the bridge so that it can open up traffic in order to work on the other side of the road and they are saying it will take them eight weeks and we are taking them by their words ". He disclosed that the road was under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs before it was recently handed over to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to continue with the supervision and completion He further said that the east-west road is not yet under the Tax Credit Scheme but hoped that it will be part of it soon. ...

Suleja - Minna, Agaei - Baro Roads For Completion May 2023 - FG The Federal Government has given the assurance that work on section II of the ongoing dualization of Suleja - Minna road and construction of the  Agaei - Baro  road will be completed by January  and May 2023 respectively as planned.  Director Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engineer Folorunsho Esan gave the assurance during an assessment inspection of the roads, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Both roads are being funded  by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under the Tax Credit Scheme introduced by the federal government. While speaking to journalists, the Director Highways expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work.  On the Suleja - Minna road he said "My impression is  that the contractor is on site making progress and we can see the various aspects of work, the earthwork, the pavement work and even the asphalt laying is going on smoothly, the only challenge is that of security but it's being taking care of with the presence of security agents". Speaking on the 52 kilometers Agaei - Baro Port road which connects the Lambata - Bida highway, Engineer Esan said, " work is progressing, 14 kilometres have been asphalted, earthwork is up to 32 kilometres and the rest which is about 18 kilometres is still outstanding, but we have the assurance that the work will be delivered on target". The Director said the road when completed will boost the economy of the Nation and the North Central region in particular as it leads to the Baro Port through which goods and services can be brought into the country and exported to other countries.  Team Leader of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Tahir Ahmed who took part  in the inspection exercise to asses the quality and progress of work also expressed satisfaction with the work done so far.  He said NNPC is funding the construction of the roads under the Tax Credit Scheme of the Federal government that allows corporate organisations to invest the tax that would have been paid to the Federal Government into infrastructure development, stating that the work will aid the progress of their business, the economy and improve the wellbeing of Nigerians.  Mr. Tahir also stated that the roads were among the other critical roads selected to be funded by the NNPC  because of their importance to the economy of the nation through which Petroleum products are being conveyed to other parts of the country. The contractors working on both sites expressed confidence that the projects will be completed and delivered on target as funding is readily available.  Some residents of Takalafiya community along Lapai  - Bida road who recalled the hardship and accidents that were experienced on those roads,  praised the Federal Government for the job. Muhammed Abdullahi said, " we use to see different kinds of accidents on this road, now that they are reconstructing the road we are very happy because we are satisfied with the work going on. Another resident of the area, Abdullahi Audu said, " We were facing problems on this road but now we have started having some relief because the people working on the road are trying seriously" " Now driving from here to Lambata is done with ease,  before it would take up to 2 hours or more but now it will take only about 30 minutes. Federal Government is trying, we are happy" he added. ...