FG approves N15.73bn for road project in Enugu

The federal government has approved N15.3 billion for the construction of road project linking Umanaa-Ndiagu-Agba-Ebenebe-Amansil-Awka-Umumba section two in Enugu State.

The approval was made on Wednesday, during the weekly federal executive council meeting presided over by acting President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this after the meeting, explained that the project, which was initially awarded at the cost of N10.3 billion in 2012, was to serve six different communities.

Fashola said that the project suffered failed implementation due to lack of funding, adding that there was also need to provide for erosion control.

He said, “The memorandum that was approved today was for the augmentation of an existing road contract. That road is a series of roads captured as Umanaa, Ndiagu, Agba, Ebenebe, Amansii, Awka and spurs to Umumba road in section two in Enugu state.

“The contract was awarded in 2012 and they were spurs off the Enugu-Onitsha highway to six different communities, Ebenebe, Umana, Ndiagu, Nkpodu, Ekeagu and Ugwuoba.

“Because of lack of appropriate budgeting and funding all of these projects could not be completed. There were also failures in the implementation as we inherited it.

“There was also the need to provide for erosion control measures and drains. That has led to the revision of the existing contract awarded in 2012 from N10.3 billion to N15.734 billion.

“So it is that revision to enable the contract to be completed that was presented and approved by council today.”