Abuja-Kano Expressway to Be Ready in 14 Months – Information Minister
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says the Abuja-Kano Expressway will be completed within 14 months.
This development follows President Tinubu’s directive to reassign the project to a new contractor after Julius Berger’s initial three-year timeline was rejected.
According to Idris, the President is committed to completing the project, which will connect the Federal Capital Territory to Kano and other states.
The Minister noted that the government will not allow any contractor to delay the project, citing the importance of completing the road in a timely manner.
The Minister made this statement on Thursday evening in Tafa, Niger State, during an inspection visit to the project site.
He said the project has been segmented into three sections to facilitate easier construction.
Idris commended the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, for his dedication to delivering the project, despite protracted negotiations with Julius Berger.
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“The Honourable Minister of Works has said that they have set for themselves a target of 14 months, or thereabout, to complete this road. And you can see the passion, the enthusiasm, you know, the kind of determination that all of them have. And we do believe that all of them working the way they are doing, they will complete this work in record time.
“For those who are politicising this road project, please keep politics aside. This road is there to be constructed. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined that this major artery linking the Federal Capital Territory to Kano and to other States will be completed. Nothing is going to stop it,” he said.
In his remark, Senator Umahi announced that the Ministry of Works has secured a “No Objection” certificate from the Bureau of Public Procurement for N252.89 billion and will present the contract for ratification at the next Federal Executive Council meeting.
The project has been expanded to include an additional 10.6 kilometers to connect to Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and 5 kilometers towards Kogi, as well as full solar light installation.
“I am happy to announce that as at yesterday, we got “No Objection” from BPP for a total of N252.89 billion contract sum and I am very sure that FEC will give us approval at next sitting but let me say that we added 10.6 kilometers at the Kano axis to take the project to Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and we added another 5 kilometers towards Kogi and also full solar light installation to prepare the entire road for operation and maintenance concessioning,” he said.
