Abuja-Lokoja Contract: Augmentation As Rescue Measure?

[Shola Sholaz]

The Federal Government under former President Olusegun Obasanjo had in 2006 approved the award of contracts for the dualization of Abuja-Abaji Lokoja road to four contractors.
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The contractors are Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Ltd for section 1 (Zuba junction to Sheda Village), RCC Nigeria Ltd for section 2 (Sheda junction to Abaji Road), Bulletine Construction Ltd for Section 3 (Abaji to Kotonkarfe) and Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Ltd for Section 4 (Kotonkarfe to Lokoja) at the total costs of N42.55 billion.
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The project which was awarded under the presidential initiative projects was aimed at fast tracking the reconstruction, expansion, improvement and development of road infrastructure in the country and the projects were intended to be completed within two and half years.
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In 2011, five (5) years after the award of the contracts, the projects were almost rested as 'abandoned' with very slow progress made. Apart from inadequate budgetary provision, only N26.3 billion was released to the contractors in five years out of the total N42.55 billion. Other factors that hit the project negatively included astronomical rise of the costs of construction materials like cement, reinforcement, bitumen, diesel and cost of labour.

[EbukaOkafor14]

There are more bad roads to take care of in this country. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should see to that

[femifemzy3]

Since Obasanjo's era i've still not seen a good road Nigeria can boat about and be sure it will stand the test of time