State govts can now repair federal roads, says Umahi

The Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi, says the Federal Executive Council  has approved the construction or rehabilitation of federal roads by any state government which so desires.

He said this to State House Correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday in Abuja.

Recall that many state governors had expressed the desire to repair some bad Federal Government’s roads in their domains, but lamented that there was no approval by the FG.

Ogun, Lagos and Edo states, among others, have expressed interest in repairing some FG roads in their domains.

However, Umahi said, “A 24-hour approval would be given to any state interested in taking over road projects in their domain, while particular conditions must be met for the agreement to take effect.

“The project by the states must conform to the standard of the Federal Ministry of Works as well as meet the tolling system through which they would recoup their investment.”

The minister added that FEC approved the use of concrete for road projects across the country including those of new ones, depending on the level of completion.

He said, ‘’FEC was also informed on the on-going projects and to mitigate so much inflation and variation of the projects, to have some of the projects that have attended completion to be redesigned on concrete and going forward for new projects to be done on concrete.

He said, “FEC approved that concept that most of the on-going projects should be designed on concrete pavements depending on the level of completion and if you’re doing Asphalt there are also conditions for that.

‘’FEC also approved the coastal road running from Phase 1 which runs from Lagos to Port Harcourt to Calabar. Phase 2 runs from S4 tearing off from this stretch to Sokoto and to Ogoja.

“It is to be done on Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Financing.

“Eight roads that were started in the past administration for concessioning that have gone through all the processes were also approved and that the financial closure should be reached November.’’