By Editor

FG, agencies to construct 1,800km road at N621b Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have signed a pact to construct 21 key roads totalling 1,800 kilometers at a cost of N621 billion.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, stated this at presentation of the cheque by NNPC, through tax credit, to the contractors in Abuja, noting that the initiative will contribute to the country’s infrastructural development.

“This is part of the Executive Order from the past administration, which was not used, and we think it is reasonable to operate on it to construct network of roads, though the Order has almost expired,” he said.

He said the arrangement requires the ministry to carry out certification immediately. FIRS will have to certify the contracts, while NNPC will make the payment within 30 days.

“Construction firms will have confidence to mobilise their personnel to the sites. We have all agreed that unpaid certification will be paid as from today, so that money will circulate to the business world.

“This is tax credit intervention. Dangote Nigeria Limited and other oil firms have carried out similar gesture. Most of these roads are used by oil firms to distribute petroleum products,” he added.

Describing the pact as unprecedented, the representative of NNPC, Umar Andijya said fund for construction of roads is always very small compared to other sectors, “so, we have to come in to assist. The credit will be issued at completion of the 21 key roads,” he said.

MEANWHILE, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has flagged off construction of a N3.36 billion road project to ease commuting.

The Mubi bypass dual carriageway project was awarded to Triacta Nigeria Limited and is to be completed in 18 months.

Inaugurating the project in Mubi, yesterday, Fintiri lamented that the border town is choked up with over two million vehicles, requiring a bypass to ease traffic flow.

While speaking on the project specifications, Commissioner of Works and Energy Development, Adamu Abubakar, said the bypass covers 6.8 kilometres and would feature a trailer park, among others.

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