By Our Correspondent in Lokoja
Adekunle Jimoh Yusuf (Engr), Director Highways, North-Central, Federal Ministry of Works and Housin says the Abuja-Highway dualisation will be completed and delivered by December 2021.
Yusuf,who disclosed this while speaking with the press in Lokoja on Wednesday in Lokoja, assured Nigerians of timely completion of the project, adding that funding was no longer a challenge toward the realisation of the project.
The director,who was on a routine check to assess the level of compliance of the contractors handling the projects, recalls that the project had hitherto suffered setback due to poor funding by previous administration.
Yusuf expressed delight that the alternative funding platforms, provided through the initiative of President Muhammadu Bihari-led administration, had brought a new lease on life on the project.
“We have no issue with funding, here, because it is part of the initiatives of this government. Before the inception of this administration, there was nothing like SUKUK, but this government has come up with those funding alternatives.
“We now have the SUKUK,Tax Relief, and loans that we got from China NEXIM on some other projects, but this particular project is enjoying the SUKUK loan, apart from the budgetary provisions.
“So, all we just need is for the contractors to make sure they are working.
“This visit is mainly to ensure that quality work is being executed, that’s why came with my team,” Yusuf said.
Contributing, Engr Jimoh Kajogbola, Federal Controller of Works in Kogi state,explained that dualisation of Lokoja-Benin section one was in two phases.
“We are on phase II now and it is about 41 kilometres. The total length of both phase one and phase two is about 58.15 km. The contractor has partially completed phase one which includes Okene bypass of about 14 kilometres virgin dual carriageway.
“The contractor, CGC Nig. Ltd., has completed that except some little little issues which will be cleared but it has been opened to traffic for more than two years now.
Kajogbola said that the last extension granted the contractor was expected to expire in December, 2021.
“So, it is now left for the contractor to work harder to be able to access the provisions made for them within budget and from SUKUK Funding, We have about N2.5 billion to access this year, 2020,” He said.
Alhaji Yaba Abubakar, Project Manager who spoke on behalf of CGC Nig. Ltd. assured that the work would be completed and delivered by December 2021, given the level at which the work had been going.
