NNPC to mobilise funding for Badagry Expressway

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Popoola, has said his ministry is fine-tuning modalities for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to mobilize funding for the Badagry Expressway project.

Popoola told journalists recently in Lagos that the highway would henceforth get lots of attention because of NNPC’s involvement in the project under Federal Government’s Tax Credit Scheme.

“Lagos-Badagry Expressway project is part of the projects NNPC is funding under the Tax Credit Scheme among the 21 roads selected nationwide.

“So, it is going to receive a lot of attention more than what it has been receiving before,” Popoola told journalists in Lagos.

He explained that the funds were already available but that NNPC was perfecting documentation towards mobilizing fully to the site.

“In a couple of days, we should be done with documentation. This month, give us another one week more, NNPC funds will be on the road, you will see the effect in a week’s time.

“The contractors are on-site and have never left, so, if this fund comes now, it is another way of strengthening them and they will move faster,” he said.

According to him, the construction would be evaluated the same way the SUKUK funds were monitored for monies to be released based on the valuation of the actual construction done on the site per time.

He, however, declined comment on the total sum voted for the highway because he did not have the figures handy.

Lagos State Government is responsible for the Iganmu – Okokomaiko section of the highway, while FERMA is handling the Okokomaiko – Agbara axis of the road.

Also, the federal government had on Oct. 24, 2018, awarded the reconstruction of the 46km Agbara – Seme section of Badagry expressway to CGC Nigeria Limited at a sum of N63.2 billion.

Also speaking on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, the controller said on section one which spans from Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu Interchange, being handled by Julius Berger had reached the final layer on 37 out of 44 km.

“So, we have less than 8kms of the carriageway to complete, so, tentatively, we are still completing that project as the Honourable Minister said, next year, 2022, says June,” he said.