Tinubu okays over 200 emergency road repairs nationwide — Umahi

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved more than 260 road repairs in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“Just yesterday (Wednesday), he (President Tinubu) approved over 260 road interventions across the 36 states and the FCT,” the Minister of Works, David Umahi, told State House Correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the President at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday.

Umahi explained that the emergency repairs will gulp about N217bn, aside from more road construction works and upgrades Tinubu approved.

They include the resurfacing of the Third Mainland Bridge, construction of Lekki Deep Seaport road, re-construction of two collapsed bridges in Enugu and reconstruction of two locations on the Onitsha-Owerri Road.

Other roads approved for construction include the upgrading of the ongoing Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia road, dualisation of the Lafia by-pass.

Emerging from the meeting, Umahi said, “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 in respect of that that Mr President has not approved.

“You’ll recall that last week he approved a lot of emergency roads and bridges repairs; we have three bridges that collapsed on the South-West roads, he approved for reconstruction immediately. We have the Shendam-Lafia that collapsed, we also have the approval for its repairs.”

The minister revealed that the President approved and released money for the immediate repairs of 17 points along the East-West Road destroyed by floods.

Third Mainland Bridge’s resurfacing and repairs of some noticeable deflections which had to be done under the deck on top of the water were also approved.

Tinubu also approved the repair of two collapsed bridges in Enugu, the reconstruction of two defective locations on the Onitsha-Owerri Road and the Lokoja-Abuja Road

Umahi said, “Apart from the 260 emergency repairs all over the country that worth about N217bn, this afternoon again, Mr President approved the upgrading of the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia Road.

“But it’s a PPP with the Chinese and we’re paying 15 per cent. Also, the construction of the Lafia Bypass dualisation from Makurdi, through Oturkpo, through Oboloafor, down to 9th Mile, it’s a major one, but Mr President has approved it. This is also being financed by the China EXIMBank; Lafia-Keffi Road is also financed by Chinese EXIMBank. “

Meanwhile, Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to speed up road maintenance nationwide.

Umahi disclosed that “Mr President approved the reconstitution of FERMA Board and this is very good for us, this is so that work can now get a bit more serious with FERMA in terms of very prompt maintenance of the roads.”