By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has announced the completion of 30 kilometers of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway reconstruction project.
According to Umahi, the completed section is part of the initial 118-kilometer stretch, comprising 17 kilometers built with reinforced concrete pavement and 13 kilometers laid with asphalt. The segment reportedly cost about N252 billion.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, the minister disclosed that the second phase of the project, spanning 164 kilometers, is estimated at N502 billion.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu has approved a 30 percent advance payment of N152 billion to fast-track the work.
Umahi revealed that construction is currently ongoing on four sections of the highway, with plans to expand to six.
“We met with the contractor last week and agreed that they must deploy to at least six sections,” he said.
Expressing optimism about meeting the 14-month completion deadline, the minister cited strong presidential support, similar to that backing other major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Trans-Saharan Route, and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway.
Responding to concerns about alleged structural issues on the coastal highway, Umahi dismissed the reports, clarifying that work had not commenced in the area in question.
He further announced plans to install 6.5-meter-high gantries with spikes under flyovers nationwide to prevent damage by overloaded trucks.
This safety measure, he said, is aimed at avoiding incidents like the recent collapse of the Keffi flyover, which resulted in a fatality.
Similar structural problems, he added, have been identified on newly constructed flyovers along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Keffi flyover will be the first to receive the protective gantry.
