The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved contract for the dualisation of Odupani-Itu-Idedem Item-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States put at N55 billion.
FEC, at its third meeting of the year after a rigorous review, awarded the road to Decon Construction Nigeria Limited to complete the project inherited from the immediate past administration.
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi announced this on Monday while addressing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting.
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Corroborating the road contract, the member representing Ukanafun-Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem hailed President Bola Tinubu for awarding the contract for the construction of the road project he had tabled in the House of Representatives.
Idem wrote on his Facebook page today ‘‘I am immensely grateful to His Excellency, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for responding to my motion by approving ₦55 billion Naira for the dualisation of Odukpani-Itu-Idedep Item-Ikot Ekpene Road in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, which is awarded to Decon Construction Nigeria Limited.
The Ukanafun-born politician noted ‘‘The cheery news was announced by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to State House correspondents on Monday, March 3, 2025, after the 24th Federal Executive Council meeting at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
According to him, ‘‘Mr. President has again shown that he is a listening leader who is interested in the welfare of citizens, and wants to leave a lasting legacy in the annals of history of Nigeria.’’
He recalled that on November 25, 2024, he presented a motion on the “Need for the inclusion of Odukpani-Itu road project in the 2025 Appropriation and ensure adequate budgetary provision,” where I raised concerns that the current deplorable state of the road has spanned well over 20 years, since its construction in 1975, leading to loss of economic opportunities, and placing untold hardship on commuters across Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State and beyond.
‘‘I also drew the attention of the country to the fact that commuters waste many hours while plying the road, due to obstruction from broken-down trucks and ravaging gully erosion on some portions of the highway.
‘‘In the motion, I made it clear that agricultural, economic, industrial activities and human lives are lost daily, cumulatively estimated by National Bureau of Statistics and Federal Ministry of works at N1.465 billion annually.”
Following my motion, the House of Representatives urged the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning to ensure the inclusion of Odukpani-Itu Federal Highway construction in the 2025 Appropriation Bill and mandated its Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Appropriations, Finance and Works to ensure compliance and adequate budgetary provision.
The Green Chamber also directed its Committees on Public Procurement and Works to investigate the abandonment of the Odukpani-Itu Road Project, which was awarded in tranches to Julius Berger, Somatech and CCECC in 2021.
Providing further clarification on the contract, Umahi said “There are three sections that we inherited. One is CCECC. That’s the first one coming from Akwa Ibom. The second one is Berger. Berger had about 27 kilometers there, and then, they went onto Cross River, and then had about 17 kilometers, and then the last one is Somatech.
“When we came on board, we needed to review all the projects. And so, whereas the two other contractors, CCECC and Somatech accepted the review, Berger insisted that the project should be reviewed up to over N100bn, which warranted terminating it. That project is being re-procured through selective competitive bidding. And Decon won it with N55bn, as against N100bn plus.”
The Federal Lawmaker said ‘‘that in 2019, I presented a motion in the 9th National Assembly, drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the need for the appointment of more Commissioners into the Federal Character Commission, for its effectual functionality.
‘‘President Muhammadu Buhari then acted within 30 days by appointing more Commissioners into the Commission, prompting commendations on the motion and subsequent action by the President.’’
Other roads awarded by FEC
“The next one is the approval for the award of contract for the dualisation of Ibadan-Ilorin road section two, which is in Ogbomosho in Oyo State.
“It’s N147 billion in favour of GRVe to be constructed on reinforced concrete pavement.
“We also have another one approval for the completion of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano roads, this time is section two, that’s 82 kilometres by two, that is 164 kilometres, awarded for N507 billion.
“The last one is the construction of a flyover at Abakpa bordering 82 division Enugu. A flyover is to be constructed to relieve traffic jams there.
“The contractor is CCECC and the amount is N24 billion,” the minister said.
The minister added that info West Nigeria Ltd., the contractor handling Section One and three of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano section, competitively won the session two.
