FEC approves N4b for completion of Kwara-osun highway

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N4 billion for the completion of a major highway connecting Kwara and Osun states.

It also sanctioned N244 million for procurement of vaccines for poultry, dogs and others. The meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, gave the approvals yesterday in Abuja. Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the gathering, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said part of the contract for the roads was awarded by the previous government. He said: “They relate first to Ajase/epo/offa/erinle Road in Kwara State; that is the road that connects Kwara to Osun. The approval was for the 18-kilometre section that completes the entire length of 26-kilometre of the road. All that was awarded by the previous administration was just eight kilometres.

“So, what we have done now is to award the 18 kilometres so that the full stretch of 26 kilometres is now under contract for the purpose of completion. That comes to a sum of N4.027 billion for the 18kilometre stretch; the previous contract is still going. So, this is an addendum to that contract.’’

He said the second road project approved by the council was the OsogboIlesa highway awarded in 2012 without funds’ backing.

He explained that the Buhari administration had done 76 per cent of the entire project, adding, “What we awarded today (yesterday) was a variation of N825 million.”

On why some of the roads deteriorate and most times collapse less than two years after construction, Fashola blamed the development on heavy trucks which carry 60,000 to 90,000 tons with adverse impact on the infrastructure.