The PUNCH reports that the government has made promises on several occasions to complete the project since December 20, 2018, when the contract was awarded.
In October 2022, the former minister of State, Works and Housing, Umar El-Yakub, said work on the Kaduna-Abuja highway, and Zaria-Kano road would be completed in early 2023 to reduce negative effects on road users.
Similarly, the former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in April 2023 stated that the present administration could not fulfill its promise due to security challenges experienced in 2022 and the relocation of some communities on the Zaria section 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.
