Nigerian govt to spend ₦73.9bn on Mararaba-Keffi road project

The Federal Government has announced plans to spend ₦73.9 billion on the reconstruction and expansion of the Mararaba-Keffi road, with the project scheduled for completion by June 2026.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the contract was awarded to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Nigeria Limited, and the government has set a 13-month timeline for completion.

Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, disclosed this during an inspection of the ongoing Abuja-Keffi expressway expansion project on Saturday. He commended President Bola Tinubu for ensuring the project’s execution, noting that the road is vital for inter-state connectivity.

“This road is very critical because it crisscrosses several states,” Goronyo said. “We have completed the road from Keffi to Makurdi, and now the stretch from Mararaba to Keffi is ongoing. The Makurdi-Enugu section is also in progress, with the contractor making measurable achievements.”

He added that the federal government anticipates that the full road corridor—from Abuja to Port Harcourt—will be completed by June 2026.

Goronyo emphasized that the project had already contributed to a reduction in travel time and improved the movement of goods and services, leading to economic benefits. He noted that the contract, awarded in June 2023 with a 30-month completion period, officially commenced in December 2023. As of now, the project is 42 percent complete.

He also revealed that the ministry is awaiting certification from the contractor to authorize the release of additional funds and that plans are underway to expand road lanes to accommodate increasing traffic.

Speaking on behalf of the contractor, Ronald Liao, CHEC’s Commercial Manager, acknowledged the challenges posed by daily heavy traffic between Masaka and Mararaba.

“The traffic flow on this corridor is intense, forcing us to work primarily at night,” Liao said. “This has slowed our progress, but with the continued support of the ministry, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and project supervisors, we are confident of meeting the deadline. We expect to reach 56 percent completion by the end of the month.”