Federal Government allocates ₦20 billion monthly to Julius Berger for completion of abuja-kano highway

The Federal Government has pledged N20 billion monthly to Julius Berger Plc to support the completion of the of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Highway. The goal is to finish this project within 14 months.

This announcement was made through a statement on the Ministry of Works' official website, following a meeting on Wednesday between the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and representatives from Julius Berger.

The discussion centered on delays affecting various road projects awarded to the contractor across the nation, which have been attributed to a range of challenges. During an inspection of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, Minister Umahi acknowledged the quality of work being performed by Julius Berger but stressed the need to complete one carriageway (one side of the dual road) at a time before moving on to the next.

Moreover, Umahi directed Julius Berger to fill both carriageways with a stone base and ensure they are leveled within three weeks to ease the difficulties encountered by road users during the construction period. He emphasized that this measure is vital to reducing inconvenience and improving the overall travel experience as the project advances.

Speaking on the portion of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road under Julius Berger's responsibility, Umahi commended the standard of work but insisted that the contractor focus on completing one carriageway at a time. He also instructed the contractor to prepare both carriageways by filling and leveling them within three weeks to alleviate the challenges faced by motorists.

Umahi stated, "We have agreed that this section of the project, handled by Julius Berger, will be completed within 14 months. The work will be divided into four sections, with ₦20 billion being allocated to Berger every month to ensure the project stays on track."

The statement highlighted that this initiative is part of the federal government’s broader commitment to thoroughly reviewing ongoing federal road projects to ensure that contractors adhere to performance standards and meet their deadlines.