Works Ministry Patched Potholes on Abuja-Kaduna Road, Repair Apapa Warf Road with N5.711billion

Minister of Power,Works and Housing,Babatunde Fashola has revealed that emergency construction works done on the Abuja-Kaduna road during temporary closure of the Nnandi Azikiwe International Airport,Abuja gulped N1.58billion.

He also said repair works for the Apapa wharf road which was executed under anticipatory Presidential approval gulped N4.131billion.

Fashola who briefed State House correspondents on Wednesday, said approval has now been given by FEC to cover the expenses incurred for the repair works in line with provisions of the law.

His words,”The two memos presented by my ministry were ratification of road works that had to be done under emergency circumstances.

“The first was the Abuja- Kaduna highway. Recall that we had to immediately do palliative works in order to support the closure of the Abuja airport runway which necessitated diversion of traffic to Kaduna.

“At that time we didn’t have FEC’s approval we only had anticipatory Presidential approval as prescribed under the law for emergencies works.

“The second project was in respect to the Apapa Wharf road. Recall that there was a recent presidential order for a 24hour port operation and that again put pressure on an already deteriorating road.

“If you might recall I also went to hand over that road sometime in June under the public private partnership structure between Julius Berger, Flour Mills, NPA and the ministry of Power, Works and Housing to start construction on that first phase of the road.

“Council approved and ratified works that we had conducted on Abuja-Kaduna highway and also terms and conditions upon which we handed over the Apapa road.

“N1.58billionn for the 165 km Abuja-Kaduna stretch where we did mainly patching of potholes to make the roads motor-able during the closure of the Abuja airport. The Apapa project cost N4.131billion”.