FG SET TO IMPLEMENT CASHLESS TOLLING SYSTEM FOR ABUJA-KEFFI EXPRESSWAY AND DUALIZATION OF KEFFI-AKWANGA-MARKURDI ROAD, INAUGURATES COMMITTEE FOR IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK. As part of measures of the Renewed Hope administration to revolutionize road infrastructure development and stimulate economic growth, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has inaugurated a committee on the implementation of Cashless Tolling System for Abuja-Keffi Expressway and Dualization of Keffi-Akwanga-Markurdi road. Speaking during the inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja on 17th October 2024, the Honourable Minister of Works stated that the cashless tolling system was a strategic programme under the Highway Development and Management Initiative aimed at promoting strong and sustainable transportation ecosystem. He said “This is one of the cardinal strategies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards realizing the desires of our people in the road sector development. Recall that a point of Keffi-Akwanga-Markurdi was done on EPC + F, and funded up to 85% by China Exim Bank, and the Federal Government paid 15% counterpart funding and the job was executed satisfactorily by China Harbour Ltd.  Part of the agreement is that they will toll the road and then recoup the money for the Federal Government to pay back the loan segment of the project.   Inaugurating the committee, the Honourable Minister  commended very highly the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for the vast strategic economic recovery initiatives of the Renewed Hope administration, and expressed hope that the committee would leverage on ideals  of the Terms Of Reference handed to them to develop a robust implementation Master plan that would lead to the realization of the economic and social objectives of the Highway Development and Management Initiative which is institutionalized to ensure sustainable private sector investment and to improve the quality and quantity of the road assets in Nigeria with a view to propelling rapid economic development. He tasked the committee on the Terms Of Reference which among other things are to develop the cashless tolling system implementation framework, make appropriate recommendation as to the potentials of relief stations and good physical environment along the corridors and profer practical solution to the challenges of implementing cashless toll collection in Nigerian environment. He said “We must also, as part of the assignment, develop relief stations. Relief stations is what you see in overseas' expressways, where you have a lot of stations where you have a supermarket, you have a small clinic, you have also security outfits, and a number of other facilities, including parks, wheel lorries, and vehicles park, and tow vans. The idea of Mr. President is that we should have a maximum of 10 minutes of response time on our Highways, meaning that in the full development of this route, part of the assignment will be how we can install CCTV cameras, and also have solar light all through the entire route of the project. And so, we will be able to put security on our roads, and then we have a station at the relief center, where they will stay and watch the vehicles, so that within 10 minutes of any incident along the route, the security people will be able to be there within 10 minutes response time. This is the idea of Mr. President, and for our major highways.”   Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Head PPP Unit, Federal Ministry of Works, Mrs. Ugwu-Chima Nnennaya stated that the inauguration was part of the statutory responsibilities of the Federal Ministry of Works which has the mandate to attract private sector funding for the development and management of Federal road network through the Highways Development and Management Initiative (HDMI). She said, "The HDMI is expected to, among others, bring order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of Federal Highways. This is consistent with the provisions of the ICRC Establishment Act 2005; National Policy on Public-Private Partnership (“N4P”); Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy of August 2021 and Federal Highways Act CAP. 135, 1971, which grants the Honourable Minister of Works the power to administer Tolls on Federal Highways." In her acceptance speech on behalf of the committee on the implementation of Cashless Tolling System, the Chairman of the committee thanked the Honourable Ministry of Works for the opportunity to serve the nation in that capacity. She noted the scope of the assignment, which she said was onerous and assured of profound commitment of the committee to the assignment given to them. She said, "We thank you, Honourable Minister, for giving us this opportunity to serve our nation. As we all know, infrastructure is the root for development, and amongst the sectors of infrastructure, transportation is one of the most important sectors. Without transportation, things would slow down, and we need to open up roads everywhere as we all know that, particularly in Nigeria, transportation is one of the main means of movement for people, goods, animals and everything. So, it's a sector that is very important in the development of a nation. I would like to thank the Ministry of Works for giving us the opportunity to serve, and we will do our very best to make sure that we contribute to the success of this project." The committee which comprises  members drawn from the Federal Ministries of Works, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Justice as well as Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has the Head, PPP Federal Ministry of Finance, Haj. Jummai Katagum and the Head PPP Unit, Federal Ministry of Works,  Mrs. Ugwu-Chima Nnennaya as Chairman and Secretary, respectively. The committee has within two (2) weeks to submit its report. ...

FG Begins Phased Palliative Works on Abuja - Kaduna Dual Carriageway    In order to bring succour to road users, the Federal Ministry of Works has commenced emergency repairs of failed portions of the Abuja - Kaduna Dual Carriageway.   The contractor, Messrs H&M (Nig.) Ltd mobilised to site on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024. The contract for the Section I of the Expressway starts at kilometre 0 + 00 (Zuba, FCT) and ends at kilometre 31 + 200 (Tafa, Niger/Kaduna States’ border) with a two (2) weeks completion period.   The scope of the contract consists of patching of existing potholes, as well as the reinstatement of critically failed sections of the said alignment. And the approved contract sum is N366 million (Three Hundred and Sixty-Six Million Naira).    Speaking during an inspection tour of the project on Saturday, 5th October, 2024, the Directors, Highways, North East Zone I, Engr. Mohammed Goni and Special Projects (North), Engr. Olufemi Adetunji urged the contractor to adhere with the terms of the contract, as no extension of the completion period will be entertained. They described the project as a catalyst to economic growth and a vital artery connecting the Northern and Southern parts of the country. Engr. Goni promised Nigerians that with the successful completion of the contract, the remaining failed parts  from Tafa - Kaduna will also be awarded, reiterating the resolve of the present administration to the provision of critical road infrastructure.   The Project Supervisor, H&M (Nig.) Ltd, Mr. Lawrence Emmanuel disclosed that work is  ongoing with the cutting and shaping of the failed portions reaching Dikko Junction in Niger State, while the asphalting of the cut points is expected to start on Monday, 7th October, 2024. While complaining about the high volume of traffic on the road, which is slowing the pace of work, he promised its delivery on the scheduled date.   Also on the inspection visit was the Federal Controller of Works, FCT, Engr. Yakubu Usman, who promised daily inspections and diligent supervision of the project, while it lasts.   ...

FG APPROVES FUNDS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE REHABILITATION OF ABUJA-KADUNA- ZARIA–KANO DUAL CARRIAGEWAY AND BODO-BONNY ROAD WITH BRIDGES ACROSS THE OPOBO CHANNEL, TASKS JULIUS BERGER PLC ON QUALITY AND SPEEDY PROJECT DELIVERY.   The Federal Government has tasked Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc on the need to fast-track the completion of the rehabilitation of the 82-km Section II of the Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Dual Carriageway in FCT, Kaduna, and Kano States and the construction of the Bodo – Bonny road with bridges across the Opobo Channel, Route 430 in Rivers State. This charge was made by the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. (Engr.) Nweze David Umahi, CON during a meeting with Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc, represented by its Executive Director, Projects, Engr. Banjamin Bott and the Head of Contract Management, Omonigho Brown at the Ministry’s headquarters Mabushi, Abuja on 3rd October 2024. Speaking during the meeting, the Honourable Minister stated that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting of 23rd September, 2024 approved the re-scoping and downward review of the contract for the rehabilitation of the Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Dual Carriageway in the FCT, Kaduna and Kano States, contract No. 6350 and the revised estimated total cost / augmentation of the contract for the construction of Bodo-Bonny road with bridges  across the Opobo channel, route 430 in Rivers State, contract No. 6247, amounting to a total contract sum of Seven Hundred and Forty Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Two Hundred and  Four  Thousand, Seven  Hundred and Thirteen Naira, Twenty Five Kobo (N740,797,204,713. 25) and Eighty Billion, Seventy-Six Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Thirty-Six Naira, Thirteen Kobo (N80,076,361,036.13) and tasked the contractors handling Federal Government's projects on the need for corporate nationalism in price negotiation in the face of the daunting economic challenges facing Nigeria. He said “Then we have section II, which is 82 kilometers by two, which is the section that JBN Plc is working on. And so, if you check what FEC approved on 23rd of September, FEC had approved that the total contract sum within the scope of Berger would be N740 billion, which means that if you remove N391 billion paid already, you now have about N340 billion remaining, which is the scope of their work for the 164 kilometers”. He urged the contractor to mobilize in the four sections of the Abuja - Zaria - Kaduna - Kano project to finish the job within 14 months. Engr. Umahi noted that the prices given on the said projects were the best in view of the economic reality of the time. He added, “So we are appealing to you not to try to increase the contract sum, because it will not be possible. And we have written to the President to approve that if JBN Plc does not accept the N740 billion, we will terminate the contract. We have terminated some of their jobs because we've been negotiating sometimes 12 months, 13 months. There must be an end to negotiation." He further said, “We are ready to pay you (JBN Plc) even fresh mobilisation, just to underscore the interest of the President on this project. So we are appealing and begging you that by Monday, you should be able to sign the addendum to the contract.” He harped on the need for JBN Plc to mobilize in multiple locations of the two projects so as to complete them on a record time. On the Bodo-Bonny project, he said “We don't think we have any issue. We've agreed on the N280 billion, which is the new contract sum that is fixed, and then for a 12- month completion period; that is an additional 12 months. So, we want you to mobilize in a minimum of three locations. So that within these 12 months, we'll be able to finish the job.” He went further to state, “In the letter to NLNG, we have to also propose 30% advance payment, so that they will be able to have enough funds to mitigate inflation and any form of variation.”  The meeting ended with a formal handover of the Letters of Award in respect of the reviewed approved projects contract sums to Julius Berger (Plc), which terms contain inter alia: “that the contract is fixed, firm, non-transferable and deemed duly terminated by effluxion of time, unless otherwise formally reviewed by the Ministry.   ...