The federal government plans to kickstart a road infrastructure revolution in 2024, unveiling new projects nationwide with a budget exceeding N215 billion, it has emerged.

Out of the N579,733,445,536 total expenditure, the Ministry aims for a personnel cost of N12,598,351,319, capital expenditure of N566,466,977,361, and a total recurrent cost of N13,266,468,175, as outlined in the 2024 budget proposal currently under review at the National Assembly.

Although existing projects constitute a significant portion of the Federal Ministry of Works’ total expenditure, there is also a focus on prioritizing new projects to bolster efforts in revitalizing the country’s economy through a sustainable nationwide road network.

In the 2024 budget proposal that aims to construct, rehabilitate, expand, and enhance auxiliary infrastructure to improve road networks, the Federal government allocates funds ranging from N1m to almost N100b.

The budget proposal allocates N2b each to projects such as the reconstruction and asphalt overlay of Fanari-Lokobi-Yarume-Jakanadu road, in Sokoto state; construction and asphalt overlay of Suru-Sangelu-Afadama road, in Kebbi state; reconstruction and asphalt overlay of Buni Garii-Gulani road in Gujba Local Government, Yobe state; reconstruction of 57km Besse junction to Bagudu road in Kebbi state; construction of Yandev-Buruku road in Benue state; reconstruction of asphalt overlay of Poeship (Bakin Kogi Shendam) Ngutugut-Demshin-Mararaba-Demshin road, Plateau state; construction of Unguwar Iliya Bagudu Kwantakaran-Tsiga-Bakori road with Kadabo bridge, Kafur lga, Katsina; and additional contribution to ECOWAS projects and RSTD/other PPP and EPZ projects.

While the reconstruction and asphalt overlay of earthworks and culverts at Kanuwa-Balkore-Jingine-Sabon Birna road in Kware lga Sokoto state was allocated N1.5b and the construction of Ugep/Alesi road N1b and Eegbeda to Lalupon (through Owobale and Erunmu) 15 km got N750m, the much touted Lagos-Abuja super highway was allocated N500m.

The reconstruction of Tsamiya/Wara road in Nigeria/Benin Republic border in Bagudo lga, Kebbi state was allocated the sum of N500m while the reconstruction of greater Umunekering road, creating vital access for Udi-Agbudu-Obinagu-Umuabi-Umuaga-Nachi-Obinofia-Enugu-Onitsha expressway got N400m.

By geo-political zones, South East also got new project proposals which include the provision of culverts and drains at flood-prone areas on Federal road network in the South-East zone at N3b as well as five new projects on emergency repairs as well as reinstatement of washout and critical sections along Onitsha – Owerri dual carriageway put at N2.4.

Also, there is a budget allocation of N624.2 million for the limited rehabilitation of Umuahia (Isicourt) – Aba road (Ola alignment) with a spur to the former road camp (now Federal Ministry of Works and Housing field headquarters, Umuahia); limited rehabilitation of Aba – Ikot Ekpene road (Bata junction – Ogbor hill – Opobo roundabout) is budgeted at N515.4 million; reinstatement of the flooded Enuagu – Umugama – Amaigele road in Ukwulu, Anambra state, is allocated N451.1 million; special repair of road and drainage of Central school -College road, Ibughubu/Agbadagba route Umuchu Aguata in Anambra state got N298m; emergency repairs of critical sections on Amawbia – Nise-Agulu-Ekwulobia – Uga road Anambra state got N481.6m; and limited rehabilitation of Abakaliki – Oferekpe road (km 0+000- km 4+000) was allocated N450.3m, among others.

Proposal for new road projects in the South West, among others include the rehabilitation of old Ondo – Benin road (Lagos garage to Epe garage), Ijebu Ode in Ogun state at N442m; emergency repair of Elebu – new Garrage road off old Lagos road Ibadan, in Oyo state, N235M; emergency repair of Iseyin – Ipapo Okaka Saki road along ago are Saki-Ilesha-Baruba road in oyo state at N225m; emergency repair of Saki-Ilesha-Baruba road along Ago Are-Saki-Ilesha-Baruba road, route in Oyo state at N245m; rehabilitation of Federal Correctional headquarters internal roads including outstanding section of Oriawo-Boroboro road in Oyo state at N525m; emergency repair of Okeado-Mokola along Dugbe-Mokola-Ojoo road in Oyo state at N235m; repair work of Gbemi – Dogo road along Ogbomoso – Igbeti road in Oyo state at N244m; special repairs of flood prone section along Sekona-Ife road in Osun state at N233m; and special intervention on flooding along Iwo – Ifeodan road (Oyo state boundary) in Osun state at N439m.

For the South-South and South East, among other new projects to be initiated in 2024 are the limited rehabilitation of Ama John – Umuahihie – Uzoagba road (phase ii) in Imo state at N598m; limited rehabilitation of Abakaliki – Oferekpe road got an allocation of N455m; limited rehabilitation of Abakaliki – Orie Ogbe – Ntsokkara – Oferekpe road to be executed at N494m; limited rehabilitation/construction of Okigwe – Afikpo – Cross Rivers state border (2km spur to Out Nkalu beach) in Ebonyi state at N459m; limited rehabilitation of 9th mile – Ogbeda – Ugwunani – Aku – Nkporogwu – Uzowani in Enugu state at N481m; limited rehabilitation of 3.5km township roads (trans Ekulu area) in Enugu state at N465m; limited rehabilitation of Oba – Nnewi – Arondizogu Federal road (2km spur to Ikpankwo – Umualoma – Arondizogu) at N343m; and limited rehabilitation of Ama Nkwo – Nkwo Alabo road in Obilokupu, Ozoagba in Imo state at N490m.

The federal government also allocated funds for limited rehabilitation of washout in a section of Iroakhor – Apana road in Etsako West LGA in Edo state put at N510m; repairs of critical failed sections along Iruekpen – Sabogida -Ora – Ifon road phase at N626m; limited rehabilitation of washout in another section of Iroakhor -Apana road in Esako West LGA at N362m; and reconstruction of flood control structures along Uromi-Onewa road (Federal government technical road) at N343m.

The Budget proposal allocates N4b for the construction and equipping of Ultra-modern Conference Centre blocks A, B, C, and D along Damargu Secretariat Phase III, with each block receiving N1b.

The government’s commitment to illuminating roads for both aesthetic enhancement and security purposes was highlighted with new projects across the states, new ones are also being proposed to incorporate monitoring and evaluation measures, aiming to prevent theft and vandalization of the infrastructures.

Such projects such as the provision of solar street lights/ electricity supply to highways, solar studs lights, and traffic warning signals in selected highways in the South South, North Central, North East, and North West geo-political zones got an allocation of N1,055,500,000.

While N262m was proposed for project monitoring activities in all six geopolitical zones with provision for two premium Toyota Hilux utility vehicles and one Hiace bus for use by electrical and streetlight services zonal divisions and its monitoring unit, N30m was proposed for the prevention of streetlight installations vandalization along Federal roads in all the six geopolitical zones inclusive of fuelling of standby generators.

Curiously, there are new projects with an allocation of N1m.

These include improvement of electricity supply to Shagari town, Sokoto state; improvement of electricity supply to Argungun-Yabo-Sokoto community, Yabo town Sokoto state; provision of traffic warning lights and associated infrastructure on Federal roads in Ado Iga road, Benue state; provision of traffic warning lights and associated infrastructure on federal roads in Ogbadibo lga, Benue state; provision of traffic warning lights and associated infrastructure along Zuba bypass; provision of traffic warning lights and associated infrastructure Zuba bypass, Dakiliko – Tungan Maje end; and provision of traffic warning lights and associated infrastructure along Lafia East – Markudi expressway, Lafia end, Nassarawa state.

Ongoing projects were also given necessary attention by the Federal government such as emergency repair contingency funds being allocated allocated N15b.

Among other ongoing road projects are rehabilitation of six and reconstruction of two sections of the Lokoja -Abuja road at N7.5b respectively; dualization of Akure – Ilesha road (section 11) at N4b; provision of culverts and drains at flood prone areas on Federal road network in North Central zone at N3b; provision of culverts and drains at flood prone areas on Federal road network in South West zone at N3b; provision of culverts and drains at flood prone areas on the federal road network in north west zone at N3b; provision of culverts and drains at flood prone areas on Federal road network in South South zone in 4 locations in Rivers state at N2b; dualization of Benin – Akure road (section 1) at N3b; reconstruction of Amasiri-Uburu-Mpu-Ishiagu-junction of Port Harcourt- Enugu highway with spur roads in Uburu at N2.8b; while building of deck-on-pile or retaining structure along 11 sections of East West road that collapsed under the flood (Benin – Warri – Bayelsa – Port Harcourt – Akwa Ibom – Cross River) also got N2b.

Other projects in the same category include the Lagos-Kwara-Kaduna road that got N2b; Kano-Maiduguri road (section v, Damaturu-Maiduguri) got N2b; rehabilitation and dualization of Enugu – Abakaliki – Ogoja road at N2.8b; rehabilitation of Potiskum-Fika-Bajoga-Gombe road in Yobe and Gombe states, length 189 km was allocated N1.6b; dualization of Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha road in Oyo state at N2.2b; ongoing construction of Alkaleri-Futuk road by Datum-Nigeria, in Bauchi state at N2b; rehabilitation of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road in Cross River state section 1: Odukpani-Itu bridge head in Cross River state at N1.5; rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt road section 111: Enugu-Lokpanta at N1b; constructionof two bridges at Nata’ala and Tsaiblrawa Kano South at N2.4b; rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt road section iv: Aba-Port Harcourt at N1b; and counterpart funding for construction of joint border bridge at Mfum/Ekok under the Nigeria/Cameroun international highway and transport facilitation programme at N738m.

Nearly 200 new and ongoing projects categorized as limited rehabilitation projects nationwide received a uniform allocation of N71,750,000, regardless of their geographical locations.

Simultaneously, ongoing emergency/repair work on a comparable number of roads across various states obtained a standard allocation of N55,350,000 each.

N820m and N615m were allocated for the payment for other ongoing projects & retention and emergency on roads and bridges nationwide respectively.

Among the new projects suggested for the Ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi and its 37 field offices are allocations for the acquisition of office equipment amounting to N330m, the procurement of computer software and other consumables at N300m, and the purchase of therapeutic sporting equipment/kits totaling N145m.

Additionally, the Ministry is putting forward N10.05m for its whistle-blowing policy and peers convocation, allocating N10m for the monitoring and evaluation of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit’s activities nationwide, while proposing N5m for the sensitization of electronic assets declaration.

Another ongoing project, provision for the United Nations/African Union convention program in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was allocated N8m. (The Nation: Text, Excluding Headline)

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