The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday approved N72.9 billion for road reconstruction in Lagos State spanning from Creek road-Tincan Island-Oworonshoki-Toll gate of the Lagos end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He was with Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
Fashola said the project, which will be completed in two years, covers 27.8 kilometres of five lanes on both sides of the roads.
According to him, the project excluded Coconut-Mile 2 part of the road that has already been done.
He said the project will be handled by Dangote Group on a Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) basis.
Fashola said: “The approval that Ministry of Power, Works and Housing secured today (yesterday) was for the reconstruction of Creek Road, Tin Can Island, Beachland Estate right through to Oworonshoki, all the way to the Lagos end of the Toll gate end of Lagos – Ibadan expressway.
“This is the full reconstruction of that road, which was built, l believe, around 1975 as part of first port expansion undertaken then in the 70s. That road then was intended to evacuate cargoes out of Lagos without running through the spines of the city.
“As you have variously reported, it was in the state of disrepair. Council now approved its reconstruction at the cost of N72.9 billion.”
He added: “This is a full reconstruction, excluding the fact that between Coconut and Mile 2, which had been done by the previous administration, is not involved. Some things are instructive about this
“First, it will be done through PPP model. The constructing company will be the Dangote group. It will be financing that construction to the tune of N72.9 billion as certified by PPP.
“Another instructive thing to note is that this is the first full reconstruction of that road since it was constructed at about 1975. All previous efforts had been to repair damaged sections. So, it is going all the way to reconstruct the road.
“The third thing to note is that the entire construction is that it involves procurement of 27.8 kilometres made up of 10 lanes – five lanes on both sides – three on the main carriage way, two on service lanes. So, essentially, you are constructing about 79.8 linear kilometres and that also include drainage and use of extensive cement work and rehabilitation of bridges.
“We expect contractors to move to site. This is our own long term solution to the problem contributed by the road congestion there. This will provide enduring solution to what is currently being experienced by commuters.”
Malami said the FEC approved two memos from his ministry.
He said that FEC approved a working document by stakeholders for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.
The second memo approved, he said, relates to the transfer of sentence persons serving jail term between Nigeria and China.
According to him, it would give Nigerians who have been convicted and jailed opportunity to be brought back home to serve their terms.