President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 260 roads worth N217 billion for emergency repair nationwide.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this in a chat with correspondents after a meeting with the President on Thursday at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Umahi said that the President also approved resurfacing the 3rd Mainland Bridge, Lekki deep seaport road construction, reconstruction of two collapsed bridges in Enugu and reconstruction of two locations on the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
Other roads approved for construction include upgrading the ongoing Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia road and the dualization of the Lafia bypass.
He stated: “I’ve always commended Mr President for his deep interest in reinstating most of our roads in the country. Every day, we get a lot of concerns from the public on the very deplorable situation of our roads, but there is no paper I brought regarding that Mr President has not approved.
“Just yesterday, he approved over 260 road interventions across the 36 states and the FCT. You’ll recall that last week, he approved many emergency road and bridge repairs; we have three bridges that collapsed on the Southwest roads, and he approved for reconstruction immediately. We have the Shendam-Lafia that collapsed and the approval for its repairs.
“We have about 17 points along the East-West Road that have been destroyed by flood; Mr President has approved and released money for the immediate repairs. Of course, the Third Mainland Bridge’s resurfacing and repairs of some noticeable deflections have to be done under the deck on top of the water with equipment; he has also approved that.
“I can name them, apart from the 260 emergency repairs all over the country worth about N217 billion, so I’m quite glad.
“This afternoon again, Mr President approved upgrading the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia Road; of course, it’s ongoing, but it’s a PPP with the Chinese, and we’re paying 15 per cent”, he stated.
