FEC Approves N594.49bn Road Projects, Nigeria Seeks AfDB Funding For Lagos-Abidjan Highway
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved eight road projects valued at N594.49 billion across Nigeria, while the Federal Government is pursuing financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the country’s section of the proposed 1,028-kilometre Lagos-Abidjan highway.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Umahi said Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire would hold a meeting on Friday to discuss financing arrangements for the regional highway, with Nigeria’s minister of works expected to chair the discussions.
He explained that the proposed arrangement would enable participating countries to secure AfDB funding for the construction of their respective sections of the transnational road, although the financing would depend on the outcome of the discussions and the bank’s funding framework.
The Lagos-Abidjan corridor is expected to improve regional connectivity, ease the movement of goods and passengers, and strengthen trade and economic integration among West African countries.
Nigeria’s portion of the highway will cover 79 kilometres, stretching from Tincan Island in Lagos to the Seme border with Benin Republic. Other sections comprise 89 kilometres in Togo, 576 kilometres in Ghana, 155 kilometres in Côte d’Ivoire and 128 kilometres in Benin Republic.
On the domestic road infrastructure programme, Umahi said the council approved eight projects with contract sums ranging from N11.33 billion to N209 billion, in addition to considering remedial works on deteriorated sections of the East-West Road.
Among the approved projects is the 18-kilometre Amaseri Road, stretching from Ishagu to Otakot on the Enugu Expressway, awarded at N20.257 billion.
The council also approved N11.33 billion for the third phase of the Umuahia-Bende-Afikpo Road project in Abia State, where approximately five kilometres remain under the Federal Government’s responsibility.
Umahi explained that the project was initially funded through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) tax-credit scheme, but construction stalled following the discontinuation of the arrangement.
He said the project was subsequently rescoped, while the Abia State Government agreed to undertake the construction of the remaining 43 kilometres.
In Kogi State, the council approved N160 billion for the reconstruction of the 95-kilometre E2K-Okey-Ampa-Otopa Road.
Another major approval was the N209 billion contract for the 81.1-kilometre Ado-Ekiti-Ijan-Ilumoba-Ikole Road in Ekiti State, including a bridge. The contract was awarded to CBC.
The approved projects also include the 17-kilometre Sokoto-Illela Road, Route A1, valued at N28.218 billion and awarded to Kespeko Global Limited.
Similarly, a 30-kilometre road linking Adamawa and Taraba states, featuring five bridges, was approved at N62 billion and awarded to WeChina Nigeria Limited.
Other projects are the 47-kilometre Bichi Ring Road in Kano State, including a flyover, valued at N89.2 billion and awarded to Lara Lake, as well as the eight-kilometre Dikko-Maje link road connecting to the Suleja-Minna Road, approved at N14.486 billion and awarded to MW Resources Limited.
Regarding the East-West Road, the minister said the council considered remedial works on sections that had deteriorated over time, partly because the road was constructed years ago and now lies below flood level in some areas.
Umahi also said the council commended President Tinubu over the completion and commissioning of Lot One of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria highway, covering 118 kilometres.
According to him, 81 kilometres of the completed section were constructed using reinforced concrete pavement within 30 months, which he described as a significant achievement in the country’s road construction programme.
He added that work on the second lot, covering 164 kilometres, was expected to be completed within the next 30 days, with only 16 kilometres remaining.
The minister further disclosed that the entire 375-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway corridor would be equipped with solar-powered streetlights to improve visibility and road safety for motorists.
He described the initiative as the longest route in the country to benefit from the solar lighting programme.
The FEC meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, and the newly appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, whose appointment took effect on August 27, 2026.
The road project approvals and the proposed financing discussions for the Lagos-Abidjan highway underscore the Federal Government’s efforts to expand transport infrastructure, improve road connectivity and support economic activities within Nigeria and across the West African region.
