Contract Of N41.873Billion For Road, Bridge Approved By FEC

 

A contract of over N41,872,860 for roads,Bridge under the ministry's works and housing was approved by The Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Out of N41.873 billion, the sum of N21.328 billion was approved for the Ministry of Works and Housing, the road between Enugu and Anambra state, and also the construction of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. 

According to the minister of work and housing, Babatunde Fashola, emphasis on the construction of the third Mainland Bridge will cost the sum of N6.28, which will deal with the surface of the bridge which was not there the last time the bridge. 

The Minister of Work and  House emphasizes that,

“The first was about contract cost revision by way of augmentation for the old Enugu/Onitsha Road, from Okpi Junction, all the way to Udioji to Anambra border in Enugu state. The augmentation was in the sum of N17,050,000,000, which revised the contract to N48,996,488,925 Naira with an additional completion time of 42 months.

“The second contract was a fresh contract for the maintenance of the pavement of the Third Mainland Bridge and this was approved in the sum of N6,278,063,585.58 for 24 months. This aligns with Executive Order 11 signed by Mr. President for the continued maintenance of public infrastructure.

“Now, some of you might ask, I was asked before that, okay, we did some work on Third Mainland Bridge before, why were there potholes now on it? So, this contract is in response to the potholes that have become manifest on the entire pavement of the deck of the bridge, spanning 11 kilometers, and the interchanges at Adeniji Adele, Adekunle, and Gbagada ramps that all link the bridge. 

Babatunde continue with his explanation,

"This is for the resurfacing and all of that. Those who are familiar with the bridge will recall that all of these failings were not this manifest on the bridge at the time we were doing the work we were doing. The work that we did concentrate largely on the sub-structure of the bridge, the piles, the underwater piles, the pile caps, and also the replacement of the expansion joint and the bearings.

“These are maintenance works that are critical to the structural integrity of the bridge. What we’re dealing with now is different. It is the driving surface and the aesthetics, some of the rails that have been stolen, and some of the planes that are misaligned at ramps that lead you on and off the bridge. So, this is the work that is being done now. So, all the experience of avoiding potholes on the bridge, this award of contract will tackle that."  

According to his statement, he asked if there is a security plan for the construction of the Bridge but if there is not there will be another agreement with the Federal Government.