The Federal Government, in a speech yesterday, said it was spending $49 billion (circa N1.9 trillion) on its major ongoing projects in the country. The projects include Lagos-Calabar Railway, Eko Atlantic City and Lagos Light Rail, which is taking the largest part of the sum.
The Lagos-Calabar Railway is reported to to be about 1,400 kilometres long, and it’s to be one of the continent’s most intriguing projects.
The other projects of the FG include the World Trade Centre, which is estimated to cost about $1 billion, the Lekki Free Trade Zone will cost $1.2 billion and the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power project will cost $5.8 billion.
Except these priority projects, other projects have been slated for completions across the country, such the 2nd Niger Bridge, Loko-Oweto Bridge across River Benue, Ikom Bridge, 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos, Isaac Boro Bridge in Port-Harcourt, Chanchangi Bridge in Niger State, which will link Niger and Ilorin and more. It has been reported that 37 other bridges are to be built in Nigeria.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Rai Fashola, stated that the construction of the Loko-Oweto Brdige across River Benue will shorten the distance for travellers, by reducing the distance to be travelled.
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Fashola said: “For someone coming from Cross River to Abuja by road, ordinarily will have to go from Calabar to Ikom, Ogoja to Katsina-Ala and then join Markudi, come through Lafia then Keffi and Akwanga into Abuja; but now you have a bifurcation through Oweto to Nasarawa.
“This government, in spite of very limited resources is simply doing almost the near impossible in terms of infrastructure. Mr. President continues to give his support and commitment to infrastructure. His understanding of the purpose of infrastructure for growth and development is very clear” he added.
The President, Muhammadu Buhari, during the First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat, spoke on the projects saying: “On transportation, we are growing the stock and quality of our roads, rail, air and water transport infrastructure. The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund projects are also progressing very well. These include the 11.9 km 2nd Niger Bridge, 120 km Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and 375 km Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Expressway. At the same time, we are actively extending and upgrading our railway networks, as well as our airports which are being raised to international standards with the provision of necessary equipment, to guarantee world class safety standard.”
