The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has awarded a ₦74.5 billion contract to RCC Nigeria Limited for the Phase II upgrade of 15km of the East-West Road, Section III, from Port Harcourt’s Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The ₦74,514,877,096.33 contract, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT, has a completion period of nine months.
The road is a critical link to the busy Onne Ports, connecting the major maritime gateway to other parts of the country.
However, the road has been in a state of disrepair for years, causing harrowing experiences for commuters and truckers moving goods to and from the port.
Minister of State for Works Bello Goronyo disclosed the contract award while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The approval formed part of a wider package of road projects worth about ₦610 billion, alongside the concession of three infrastructure assets, as the Federal Government seeks to leverage private-sector capital to address the country’s infrastructure deficit.
FEC also approved a ₦159.83 billion contract for the Ado Ekiti-Iyin-Aramoko-Itawure-Osun State border road, awarded to CBC Global Civil & Building Construction Nigeria Limited, with a 24-month completion period.
Other approvals included a ₦94.24 billion contract for the construction of the Ilara-Iselu Road, Phases II-V, in Ogun State, awarded to JRB Construction Company Limited, and a ₦54.52 billion review of the Phase II rehabilitation contract for the Ado-Ekiti-Afe Babalola University Road in Ekiti State in favour of S & M Nigeria Limited.
The Council also approved concessions for the Suleja-Min na (Dikko-Maje) 7.9km Road for 40 years, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for 25 years and the Greenfield Trailer Park at Aro-Ngwa, Abia State, for 50 years, under public-private partnership arrangements.