The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved a significant N1.202 trillion for key national infrastructure projects, including major investments in roads, power, and aviation sectors. This approval signals President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s economy through targeted capital investment aimed at addressing infrastructural gaps.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced that N175.08 billion had been approved for Section II of the East-West Road, which spans from Port Harcourt to Ahoada. This is one of six inherited road projects that have been reviewed and repriced under the current administration. Initially awarded in 2009 for N44.83 billion, the cost of the project was revised multiple times, with the most recent revision reflecting the impact of the floating naira and the removal of the petroleum subsidy in 2023.
Umahi explained that the current reapproval, which included a N30 billion addition, was necessary due to changes in the fiscal climate. The East-West Road is a critical infrastructure project for the oil-rich Niger Delta, improving mobility, logistics, and economic opportunities across southern Nigeria.
In the energy sector, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu revealed several approvals totaling over N40 billion, including the appointment of Quent Power Infrastructure Nigeria Limited as the new concessionaire for the Ikere Gorge Hydro Power Plant in Iseyin, Oyo State.
The original concessionaire, Misuse Power Control and Appliances Limited, failed to meet the deadline for acceptance. Adelabu emphasized that the new bidder is fully equipped to revamp and expand the hydro plant’s capacity to 15-20 megawatts, which will improve power supply to Oyo State and the surrounding Oke-Ogun region.
Additionally, Adelabu highlighted approvals for the construction of a new 132/33 kV substation in Ibadan, Oyo State, aimed at stabilizing power supply and supporting economic development in the area. The contract, worth $18.3 million and N9.9 billion, is expected to enhance power delivery to key industrial zones. Another power-related approval involved the procurement of three operational vehicles for the FGN Power Company, tasked with executing the Siemens-led Presidential Power Initiative.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, also reported substantial investments in aviation infrastructure. The Council approved N2.44 billion for the upgrade of Terminal B at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and N2.92 billion for the establishment of command and control centers at major airports.
The largest approval in the aviation sector was the procurement of $654.5 million worth of critical navigation aids and spare parts from Indra of Norway. Keyamo explained that these investments would modernize facilities, reduce flight delays, and ensure global safety compliance.
The FEC meeting also included a review of other strategic initiatives, including the ‘Nigeria First’ policy, which prioritizes local content in government procurement.
This landmark approval reflects the government’s intention to prioritize infrastructure development as a key pillar of its economic agenda, aiming to improve the country’s road network, energy supply, and aviation sector for long-term growth and development.
