FG: N1.3trn spent so far on Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, 2nd Niger Bridge

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, announced this on Thursday during the Special Weekly briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the State House, Abuja.

The briefing was to enable him to provide further updates on key collaborations between the Federal Government and the State Governments in the implementation of some of the major reforms being executed by the Ministry and the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).

He listed the cost and distance of three major PIDF projects to include Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway (375km): N797 billion, Second Niger Bridge (11.59km): N206 billion and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (127km): N310 billion.

On when the projects will be completed, Fashola said Lagos Ibadan Express Way and Second Niger Bridge are on course to be completed this year 2022, while the main Carriageway of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway is scheduled for completion by Q2 2023, adding that ancillary works will be completed later.

He said Second Niger Bridge, which was billed for completion in February but was delayed due to the COVID-19 lockdown and #EndSARS protests, is now at 91 per cent completion.

He said 1,486 people have been directly employed for the Second Niger Bridge while another 8,110 indirect jobs have been created.

Meanwhile, the minister has warned motorists to shelve the temptation to exceed 100km/h on completed roads to avoid crashes.

He said the warning became necessary when he got messages from some of the road users commending the quality

of work done, who said they were doing 150 100km/h due to the smoothness of the roads.

He also decried the sale of Premium Motor Spirit and other petroleum products on the roads, saying they deteriorate the roads faster.