The Federal Government has signed Memoranda of Understanding and contract agreements for eight major road projects across the country.

The signing ceremony, which took place at the Ministry of Works headquarters in Abuja, brought together government officials, contractors, and stakeholders in what has been described as another milestone in President Bola Tinubu’s drive to modernise Nigeria’s road infrastructure and strengthen the economy through strategic investments.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, described the projects as part of the growing legacy of President Tinubu’s administration.

“Today is another event that adds to the great work that President Bola Tinubu is doing,” Umahi said.

The minister revealed that the Federal Government has already procured the first 123-kilometre single carriageway of the Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Super Highway, stretching from Calabar through Ebonyi State to the Benue border.

According to him, the newly signed section covers another 173 kilometres through Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa states, ending at the Oweto Bridge.

He further disclosed that the government would soon procure the second carriageway of about 300 kilometres from Ndibe Beach to Oweto in Nasarawa State.

Umahi said the project would significantly reduce travel time between the South-East and Abuja while boosting economic activities in the region.

“I want to say this without any apology: the South-East people will reciprocate what the President has done for them. What happened in 2023 was an accident of history, and in 2027, we will show our appreciation,” he stated.

“I was a governor, I was a deputy governor, and we never witnessed Federal Government projects in the South-East. But Today, we may not be the first, second, or third, but definitely we are not the last.”

“So, we are very proud of what the President is doing in the entire South-East, and I pledge on behalf of the entire South-East that we are going to reciprocate because, with this project, from any part of the South-East, you can get to Abuja in three to four hours. And this is a plus for our commercial activities.”

The minister noted that five companies competed for the project before INFOUEST emerged successful, adding that the same transparent procurement process was adopted for the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project.

Umahi also spoke on the progress of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the project had moved from scepticism to national admiration.

“When we started the 750km coastal highway, people did not believe it would become a reality. Some who knew it would become a reality, out of envy and jealousy, started criticising the project,” he said.

“But Today, the entire country is waving flags for President Bola Tinubu because that project is a beauty to behold. It is an economic catalyst for the nation.”

According to him, by November, motorists will be able to travel from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos through Sections One, Two, and part of Section Four to Ondo State on completed portions of the road.

He added that Sections 3A and 3B in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states are ongoing, while Section Five, covering 165.6 kilometres, has also commenced.

Describing the coastal highway as more than a road project, Umahi said it was a long-term national investment designed to last for decades.

“This is not just a road project. I have always said that this is an investment that the President is making, and this is a road that is going to last for another hundred years with little or no maintenance,” he said.

He commended HITEC Construction Company for what he described as speed, capacity, and commitment to delivery, noting that the company has built a reputation for constructing up to one kilometre of road daily.

Umahi also explained that the cost of the projects includes extensive drainage systems, reinforced pavement, concrete works, and other durable engineering components.

“And for those asking about the cost per kilometre, we are talking about an average of N7.5 billion per kilometre for a standard carriageway,” he explained.

“But this one even comes with a lot of road architecture. You see the concrete poles, the drainage, the culverts, the reinforcement, and the pavement. So, it is not just a road. This is an investment.”

The minister further revealed that investors are already showing strong interest in the completed sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“Just like Section One in Lagos, a lot of investors are already asking to be given the section to toll and return our money even before they start tolling,” Umahi disclosed.

“So, it is an investment, and it is only a person like President Bola Tinubu that can do this.”

On the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Umahi said Section IV, covering the Oyo axis, spans 360 kilometres, explaining that the project demonstrates the government’s determination to spread development across all geopolitical zones.

“The President is President for the entire country. His four legacy projects are spread across the six geopolitical zones,” he said.

He also highlighted progress on the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Road project, explaining that President Tinubu insisted on changing the original asphalt design to concrete pavement to ensure durability.

“The President said, ‘No, we want to do a concrete road so that when we build it, it will last for a hundred years,’” Umahi stated.

The minister said the Federal Government would provide 30 percent counterpart funding for the projects, while 70 percent would be sourced through loans. He added that tolling and strategic land acquisition along the roads would ensure long-term returns on investment.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, and made available to journalists in Abakaliki.

“We neither review timing nor rates. The moment we sign, as we have done now, that is the end of the matter,” he said.

The four major legacy project sections signed include the Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Super Highway, Section II: Ebonyi State Border–Benue–Kogi–Nasarawa states; Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Section IV: Oyo State; Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Section V: Akwa Ibom State; and the dualisation of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Road, Section II: Gombe–Biu.

Other projects signed include the reconstruction of the Mando (Kaduna)–Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State by Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited; dualisation of the Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road in Oyo and Ogun states by Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited; construction of the Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda Road in Osun State by Messrs Truecrete Solutions Limited; and construction of the Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road in Osun and Oyo states by Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited.

Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, described the signing ceremony as the successful conclusion of the procurement process and the formal commencement of project implementation.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, the Chief Executive Officer of HITEC Construction Company, Dany Abboud, assured the Federal Government of timely delivery and quality execution.

“Our commitment is always on the table. We are committed to delivering these jobs before the thirty-six months awarded.

“We also commit to delivering a standard even better than what we achieved on Coastal Highway Section One,” Abboud said.