FG approves N1.02tn for Port Harcourt-Onne road, cancer centre, others

Nigeria's Federal Government has greenlit a substantial N1.02 trillion package for critical infrastructure development, focusing on major road networks and vital health facilities. The Federal Executive Council, led by President Bola Tinubu, approved seven memos from the Ministry of Works, encompassing six road construction projects and one for trailer parks. Among the significant allocations is N74.51 billion for upgrading the East-West Road linking Port Harcourt to the Onne Port Junction in Rivers State. The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, highlighted the urgency of this upgrade to improve travel and the transport of goods.

In the health sector, a major N302.30 billion was approved for the establishment of a new National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment Centre in Abuja. This initiative underscores the government's commitment to bolstering healthcare infrastructure and addressing critical health challenges. The Ministry of Works also secured approvals for various road reconstruction and rehabilitation projects across the country, including significant investments in Ekiti and Ogun states, with completion timelines set at 24 months for some projects.

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There is a section that is very bad now, and we believe with the approval of FEC now, it will go a long way in maintaining that road and make the place more conducive for our travellers and for the transportation of goods and services.

Beyond direct government funding, the council also ratified three Public-Private Partnership concessions for trailer parks and highway operations. These projects, to be entirely funded by concessionaires, include a 7.9km road project in Suleja-Minna, an operate-and-maintain concession for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and a Greenfield Trailer Park in Abia State. These concessions, spanning concession periods from 25 to 50 years, aim to leverage private sector investment for infrastructure development and maintenance.

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The Federal Executive Council today considered about 50 memos, and the Ministry of Works came up with seven memos, six on road construction, and one on trailer parks.