The Federal Government has committed to complete the unfinished stretch of the Abuja-Kaduna road by the end of the year.
Since the contract was awarded on December 20, 2018, the administration has made many pledges to complete the project.
Former Minister of State for Works and Housing, Umar El-Yakub, stated in October 2022 that work on the Kaduna-Abuja highway and the Zaria-Kano road would be completed in early 2023 to reduce detrimental effects on road users.
Similarly, former Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola indicated in April 2023 that the current administration would be unable to achieve its pledge due to security issues encountered in 2022 and the relocation of some communities on the Zaria leg of the 265km road project.
But speaking in a meeting with all directors of the ministry on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, assured that the ministry is ready to conquer all contractual obstacles and ensure delivery of the project for the benefit of Nigerians before the end of 2024.
According to the former Ebonyi State governor, the contractors have requested a review of the price of N1.3 billion to finance the project.
Umahi said, “We have about 1.7 kilometers left of Abuja-Kaduna in two sections. The ministry has some supervision work to be done tomorrow on that road and we will be advised on the real designs of the two sections.
“Funding is also an issue because it is under the presidential development fund initiative gotten from looted funds. I have had to discuss with Mr president about the importance of the road for all Northerners.
“But I won’t be able to go back to him until we re-scope it because the project was N165bn before and a review brought the cost to N655bn but today the contractor is asking for N1.35trillion and the government cannot afford it.
“What they are asking is very wrong. So we are looking at existing sub-grade and see what we can do about it. We are also looking at the first 40km to be constructed by Dangote under the Tax credit scheme to do it on concrete pavement but I am very committed to completing that road this year. No matter what happens, that road will be done this year.”
The reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, currently handled by Julius Berger is funded under the Presidential Development fund initiatives and is divided into three sections.