FEC approves N8.39 billion to augment Sokoto road reconstruction

By Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N8.39bn to augment the contract sum awarded for the rehabilitation of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Makera Road.

The contract was awarded in 2012 for the rehabilitation, but has deteriorated from the state it was awarded, hence the need for reconstruction.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) disclosed this to State House Correspondent after presenting one memorandum at the FEC meeting.

He said, “It was for the augmentation of the contract for Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Makera Road. The portion covering 185 kilometres awarded to CRCC Construction Company.

“The company is seeking an augmentation of the contract sum by N8.39 billion, which was approved and the reason was for price changes, essentially.

Between 2012 when the contract was awarded, and now, materials and costs have changed and also the scope of works of the 85 kilometres of the road has to be changed now from rehabilitation to reconstruction because it has deteriorated from when it was awarded 12 years ago. So council approved this.”

Fashola explained that there were two sections of the road.

“It comes all the way from Sokoto to Makera. The first section is awarded to Triacta. Tthat section is 296 km and we’ve completed it just recently.

“The entire 296 kilometres is now motorable. About 100 kilometres of the second section, which is the subject of augmentation, from Yauri to Makera, has been completed so we just have 85 kilometres to go.”