Wednesday’s FEC meeting was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, has approved contracts worth N124 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of road networks across the country.

The council also gave approval for the design, manufacture and supply of six units of 40MVA 132/33KV, mobile substations, at the cost of about $10 million (N1.6 billion)

Some of the roads to be rehabilitated include the Apapa-Oshodi Expessway which is considered a major gateway to the Apapa and Tincan Island ports and part of Trans West Africa Highway (Coastal).

This was disclosed by the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, while briefing journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting which was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

While providing details of the contracts, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememe, said the “roads are of immense economic importance to the country and the sub-region”

“Due to aging, the road (Apapa-Oshodi Expressway) had virtually collapsed and the damaging effects of heavy axle load vehicles carrying good to and from the ports. The drainage system had also collapsed,” he said.

The minister said FEC after careful consideration approved the reconstruction of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway Section 2 Phase II. The contract was awarded to Julius Berger (Nigeria) Plc, for N15 billion, with a completion period of 15 months.

Mr. Onolememe said the rehabilitation of the roads will also improve road safety and reductions in traveling time, vehicle operating cost, and road user cost.

“The rehabilitation of the roads will also greatly boost trade and economic activities along the routes, thereby contributing to the poverty reduction and employment generation,” he said.

The Apapa-Oshodi Expressway is not the only one approved for rehabilitation.

“After deliberations, council approved the award of contract got Lot C: rehabilitation of Mokwa-Bida Road, in favor of Messrs Triacta (Nigeria) Limited, in the sum of N10,905,079,026.60, with acompletion period of 24 months.

“The council also approved the award of contract for Lot D: rehabilitation of Akure-Ilesha Road,in favor Messrs Kopek ConstructionLimited, in the sum of N7,399,411,728.50, with a completion period of 21 months”

“Council approved the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual carriageway Section 1: Lokpanta-Umuahia Tower (KM 61+000 – KM 120+500) in Abia State in favor of Messrs Setraco (Nigeria) Limited, inthe sum of N39,548,900,597.79, with a completion period of 40 months,” the minister said.

The Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual carriageway Section 11, from Umuahia Tower-Aba Township Rail/Road Bridge to Crosdinh in Abia State, was also approved in favour of Arab Contractors O. A. O. (Nigeria) Limited, in the sum of N50 billion , with a completion period of 40 months.

On the procurement of the mobile station, the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, said in pursuit of the ongoing reinforcement of transmission substations nationwide, the transmission company of Nigeria , TCN PLC, requires additional procurement of the 40 MVA 132/33KV mobile substations for the purpose of maintaining continuous electricity supply to consumers during major works at existing substations.

Mr. Nebo said a total of 138 direct jobs would be created at the six sub stations and 1,380 indirect jobs as a result of a multiplier effect on the economy.

“After consideration, (Council) approved the memo, complete with spare parts and accessories, in favour of Messrs Liaoning Efacec Electrical Equipment co. Ltd , in the sum of $10, 278, 650.00, payable at the prevailing exchange rate the time of payment and N247, 358, 795.85, for port clearing, transportation and VAT; with 8 months delivery period”

He also announced that this will allow generated power to be evacuated, adding that “they shall be as standby when major repairs are taking place. The alternative is to make these people stay without powers for years. They are like spare parts that can be deployed to boost supply.”

He also announced that seven of the ten new power plants being built by the federal government arenow ready for commissioning, while 150 out of the 220 injection substations are also ready for commissioning.

Mr. Nebo also used the opportunity to call on the successful bidders forthe various power plants to pay up the remaining 75% and reiterated that government will not extend the period to them to pay up

“Today is the last day for the payment for the discos. I am happy to announce to you that we are receiving very favorable response. We are not extending the time for payment as there are people waiting on the fringes”

Federal government also announced the ratification of the United Nations arms trade treaty.

Read more:
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/143211-fec-approves-n124bn-for-repair-of-oshodi-apapa-expressway-four-others.html

please they should repair the road sharp sharp! the traffic congestion towards Cele bus stop and at Ilasamaja is horrible. Julius Berger is doing a nice job but at a slow pace.

Is FEC meetings all about awarding contracts? just asking.

The duration of the work is oh so long.

yawn.

why single out Enugu-Port Harcourt road?
is it the only road on the budget?
abeg ..

Ifeanyi, wetin dey worry you? why did you modify the topic?

Meanwhile, lets reiterate the progress that have been made in the road sector in the last 2yrs.

The following roads projects have been COMPLETED (32 Road Projects In all) :

Vom-Manchok road in Plateau State; Yola-Numan road in Adamawa State; Gombe Bye-pass in Gombe State; Kaduna Refinery road in Kaduna State; Kano-Daura-Mai Adua road Katsina State; Aba-Owerri road in Abia State; Oyo-Ogbomosho road in Oyo State; Otta-Owode road in Ogun State; Omuo-Ifaki road in Ekiti State; reconstruction of the Lafenwa Bridge in Ogun State; Gbogan-Iwo road in Oyo State; Ijebu Igbo-Ajegunle-Araromi-Ife-Sekona road in Ogun State; Rumukurshi-Chokocho road in Cross River State; Uba-Mbalala road in Borno State; the Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto road (from Gusau to Talata Mafara); dualization of Onitsha-Owerri road with Onitsha Eastern bypass, in Anambra State; Obiozara-Uburu-Ishiagu road in Enugu and Ebonyi States; the Abakaliki-Mbok (Ogoja Junction) road in Ebonyi and Cross River States; Owerri-Aba Road in Imo and Abia States; Okpala-Igwurita road in Imo State; and Ikom-Mfum Road in Cross River State.

Massive work is ONGOING in various other highways in the 6 geo-political zones, including ongoing dualisation of Abuja–Abaji–Lokoja Road; Kano–Potiskum–Maiduguri Road; the Benin–Ore–Shagamu Expressway; the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway; the construction of the Loko–Oweto bridge( across River Benue); East-West road; dualisation of Benin-Lokoja road; Vandeikia-Obudu-Obodu Cattle Ranch road (Phase 1) in Benue State;Mbaise-Ngwa road in Imo/Abia states, with bridges at Imo River (Phase 1); Abriba-Arochukwu-Ohafia road, in Abia State (Phase 1); Makurdi-Gboko road Phase 1 Wannune-Yandev section, in Benue; Ohafia Abia State-Oso in Ebonyi; Sections 1A and 1B of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontagora Roads, respectively in Sokoto State, Kebbi and Niger; Kunya-Kanya-Babura-Babban Mutum Road in Jigawa; Zing-Yakoko-Monkin Road in Taraba; Alkeleri-Bauchi Road in Bauchi; Aguoba-Owa-Mgbagbu Owa-Ebenebe at the Anambra border to the Awaha-Oyofo-Iwollo Road in Enugu State; Ofa by-pass in Ofa council in Kwara; the Ikot-Ekpene border-Ada Owerri dualisation section phase one in Akwa-Ibom, Abia and Imo; Utor Bridge project on Asaba-Ebu-Uromi Road in Delta; Oshodi-Apapa road in Lagos; Ijebu Ode roadin Ogun; etc, etc

The Lagos-Ibadan expressway and was recently awarded by the Federal Govt.

The Third Mainland bridge is not left out. Late last year,the EIGHT expansion joints of bridge was re-constructed. Recently, the bridge was re-surfaced by FERMA. The markings and lighting system of the bridge have been fixed by FERMA, in collaboration with SURE-P.

The ICING ON THE CAKE in the road sector is the commencement of preliminary work on the Second Niger Bridge (by Julius Berger).

FRESH AIR everywhere you go!!

TEAM FRESH AIR for life (whether OAM4J and his APC goons like it or not)

The short distance from Umuahia to Aba and Enugu to Lokpanta will take almost 4 years to complete. That's like dead on arrival.

Backing up Enugu international Airport with Enugu-PH express road - a major Eastern trunk line. GEJ till 2019!

The contract sums for some of the roads especially enugu-port harcourt road looks inflated to me! 50 billion for a 60 km road?! That's almost 1 billion per km.....its not like the terrain is a difficult one to build road on!

re@lchange:
why single out Enugu-Port Harcourt road?
is it the only road on the budget?
abeg ..

It is the longest route and it took the highest chunk of the contract...

Is Enugu-PHC Road not the same road you people told us GEJ had reconstructed?? Abi I dey sleep?

If GEJ can complete the Enugu-ph road bf 2015, I will vote for him and if he can also wake his boy at Umuahia Govt house from slumber, I will personally mobilize voters for him.

Clerverly: Is Enugu-PHC Road not the same road you people told us GEJ had reconstructed?? Abi I dey sleep?

The road failed many years ago, it was patched last year to ease movement by FERMA and some other contractors but it has started to be bad again. Potholes caused by shoddy job by one of the contractor supervised by FERMA contributed to it.

You should all know that approval does not mean work will begin in the next 6 month. some of dis road have been approve by past administration yet nothing was done.
Lagos/ibadan expressway was approve, commencement of construction was mark with pagentry yet nothing concrete have bin done afterward

Abagworo: The short distance from Umuahia to Aba and Enugu to Lokpanta will take almost 4 years to complete. That's like dead on arrival.

Perhaps, you should have asked how long it took to complete Onitsha - Owerri exp way, how long its taking to complete Owerri - PH exp way...

I dont know the reasons yet until an expert enlightens us why it takes so long to complete roads these days.

My take : awarding contract for reconstruction of Enugu - Port Harcourt expressway to Setraco Nig Ltd is wrong. Reason? The company has been doing shoddy work on the stretch Enugu - Umuahia section for over two decades.
Another company like Arab Contractors, or JB Nig Plc should have been allowed to do the job.

Sincere 9gerian:
“Due to aging, the road (Apapa-Oshodi Expressway) had virtually collapsed and the damaging effects of heavy axle load vehicles carrying good to and from the ports. The drainage system had also collapsed,” he said.

Is the minister just waking up to know the deplorable state of the road or why lamenting openly like it is a breaking news?

Sincere 9gerian:
The minister said FEC after careful consideration approved the reconstruction of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway Section 2 Phase II. The contract was awarded to Julius Berger (Nigeria) Plc, for N15 billion, with a completion period of 15 months.

So, it was after careful consideration and not a matter of necessity? Anyway, reconstruction should be the word, not rehabilitation.

enyice:

Perhaps, you should have asked how long it took to complete Onitsha - Owerri exp way, how long its taking to complete Owerri - PH exp way...

I dont know the reasons yet until an expert enlightens us why it takes so long to complete roads these days.

Answer to your question: No money. For instance, about 75% of Nigeria's 4.5 trillion naira 2013 budget goes into the payment of salaries and overheads of government workers. The remaining 25% will not be enough to provide you with capita projects such as world class roads, Universities, airports, Hospitals, railways, Power Plants, etc etc etc. The Federal Ministry of works own share in the budget is just about 130 billion naira. You will agree this amount can hardly maintain the network of roads in Abuja let alone the entire country. So, the little resources will be spread thinly over several years. Remember, to add salt to injury, even ASUU are still asking for an additional 100 billion naira as salaries which some ignorant folks support. Teaching Hospitals workers are about commencing their own agitation also. What this means is that the capital vote will be depleted further in favour of salaries of FG workers.

Maxymilliano:

Is the minister just waking up to know the deplorable state of the road or why lamenting openly like it is a breaking news?


So, it was after careful consideration and not a matter of necessity? Anyway, reconstruction should be the word, not rehabilitation.

Sometimes you recognise a problem, desire to fix it but you cannot because of lack of resources. Every minister of works would love to have bulldozers everywhere fixing the roads but you know that's impossible because of limited resources.

Nightshift: My take : awarding contract for reconstruction of Enugu - Port Harcourt expressway to Setraco Nig Ltd is wrong. Reason? The company has been doing shoddy work on the stretch Enugu - Umuahia section for over two decades.
Another company like Arab Contractors, or JB Nig Plc should have been allowed to do the job.

The reason why road contracts take long is because the contractors and clients try to make a balance between cost and time. Completing a Road project at a shorter time, would require more equipment and manpower thereby resulting in increased cost of construction. while longer time requires less manpower and equipment but carries increased risk of inflation and variations to the contract.

Government due to its scarce funds have to develop a funding plan for the project, for example if the govt can only afford 20billion every year on a project of 100billion, that means such contractor would plan its programme of works for a 5 year period, but if the client could assure the contractor that it has 100billion available now for collection , the contractors would deploy every equipment in the world to complete the works within the shortest possible time so he can claim his funds .

Responsible governments such as GEJ, have sourced for alternative funds such as SURE-P and infrastructural loans from international agencies to bridge the deficits in budget funds to many projects. Meaning that for example a road that is supposed to take 5 years can be completed in 2years, with the same 20billion annual budget from the FG plus funds from SURE-P and loans. The remaining 20billion that was supposed to be budgeted for the road on the 3rd, 4th and 5th years are paid back for the loans borrowed to finance the road .

This is why you will hear of many projects which started in previous governments but are being completed under GEJ.

t-something:


The reason why road contracts take long is because the contractors and clients try to make a balance between cost and time. Completing a Road project at a shorter time, would require more equipment and manpower thereby resulting in increased cost of construction. while longer time requires less manpower and equipment but carries increased risk of inflation and variations to the contract.

Government due to its scarce funds have to develop a funding plan for the project, for example if the govt can only afford 20billion every year on a project of 100billion, that means such contractor would plan its programme of works for a 5 year period, but if the client could assure the contractor that it has 100billion available now for collection , the contractors would deploy every equipment in the world to complete the works within the shortest possible time so he can claim his funds .

Responsible governments such as GEJ, have sourced for alternative funds such as SURE-P and infrastructural loans from international agencies to bridge the deficits in budget funds to many projects. Meaning that for example a road that is supposed to take 5 years can be completed in 2years, with the same 20billion annual budget from the FG plus funds from SURE-P and loans. The remaining 20billion that was supposed to be budgeted for the road on the 3rd, 4th and 5th years are paid back for the loans borrowed to finance the road .

This is why you will hear of many projects which started in previous governments but are being completed under GEJ.

I sincerely hope he will appreciate this your lecture...

billante: The contract sums for some of the roads especially enugu-port harcourt road looks inflated to me! 50 billion for a 60 km road?! That's almost 1 billion per km.....its not like the terrain is a difficult one to build road on!

Looks like that is becoming the standard. The FG is learning from the ACN states.

@moderators., front page

berem: please they should repair the road sharp sharp! the traffic congestion towards Cele bus stop and at Ilasamaja is horrible. Julius Berger is doing a nice job but at a slow pace.

Is FEC meetings all about awarding contracts? just asking.

They also share money and girl friends at the fec

As for the road, i like the new drainage system they are constructing.

Clerverly: Is Enugu-PHC Road not the same road you people told us GEJ had reconstructed?? Abi I dey sleep?

Another round of road patching, they would Award this contract 6 times before 2015

Obiagelli:
They also share money and girl friends at the fec

Were you one of the ladies shared at any FEC meeting?

t-something:


Were you one of the ladies shared at any FEC meeting?

Did that mumu acronym mention my name? Take ya time o

It will take 12yrs to fulfil this promise.

Obiagelli:
They also share money and girl friends at the fec

As for the road, i like the new drainage system they are constructing.

Baby why don't u offer urself freely for free money frm d alhajis. I say alhajis cos they don't care about look only holes. U caused dis response.

Amanwulu1: Baby why don't u offer urself freely for free money frm d alhajis. I say alhajis cos they care about look only holes. U caused dis response.

I for answer you but i know wan derail this fine thread by dr ifeanyi.