8.2km Abuja–Lokoja Road Section Ready for Traffic as Project Advances
The Federal Government has announced that an 8.2-kilometre section of the Abuja–Lokoja Road reconstruction project is ready to be opened to traffic, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing rehabilitation of one of Nigeria’s most strategic highways.
The disclosure was made during an inspection tour of the project corridor led by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the timely completion of the road.
Umahi said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to delivering critical road infrastructure across the country, describing the Abuja–Lokoja Road as a project of immense economic and security importance.
The minister warned contractors against delays and poor performance, stressing that government would no longer tolerate situations where funds released for projects are not utilised for their intended purposes.
“We can no longer keep quiet and allow contractors to do whatever they want to do. Contractors who have received government funds must utilise them for the intended purpose and ensure that critical sections of the road are attended to immediately,” he said.
Umahi directed officials of the Federal Ministry of Works to provide a comprehensive status report on the project and summoned contractors handling various sections to present updates on their financial and operational performance.
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He also expressed concern over prolonged construction activities on some sections of the road and warned ministry officials against poor supervision of contractors.
The minister further ordered that no section of the highway should remain closed to motorists for more than 14 days without adequate traffic management measures being put in place.
He appealed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and the Ministry of Finance to facilitate the release of approved funds to support project delivery.
Commending President Tinubu’s infrastructure agenda, Umahi said the administration had prioritised the use of durable concrete pavement technology on major highways to ensure longer road lifespan.
“The President has transformed the country into a construction site. His vision is to build durable roads that will serve Nigerians for decades,” he said.
Also speaking during the inspection, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, described infrastructure development as a shared responsibility and urged all stakeholders to carry out their duties diligently.
According to him, effective project supervision remains essential to ensuring timely delivery and quality execution of road projects nationwide.
Providing an update on progress made so far, the Managing Director of Guild Construction Company, Jamilu Ogunbola, said the company is handling Section Three of the project, covering approximately 28 kilometres from Kilometer 82+325.
He disclosed that about 8.2 kilometres of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) had been completed and was ready to be opened to motorists.
Ogunbola added that work was continuing on the remaining sections of the project to ensure timely completion.
