FG to construct Flyover along Abuja-Keffi Expressway

FG to construct flyover in Mararaba road to end traffic congestion.

The Honorable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has called for the reconstruction of the Abuja-Keffi road to include crossings at the irregular traffic end of the Nyanya-Mararaba axis of Karu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the project falls under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme and is being executed by China Harbor Engineering Company Limited.

Umahi charge the Chinese Company to get the design ready within seven days, adding that this would help reduce road congestion.

Noting that the 43.56 km long road of the project will be a divided road. He went further to say that, when the project is completed, the road will be tolled and will be equipped with many facilities to help the users.

“This road is very important. I want you to complete the road in 12 months and as soon as we complete it, we will toll it”.

“It will be added to the tolling of the Keffi – Makurdi, that is why the Public Private Partnership people are here, we have directed that in this section, we will bring in solar light, CCTV and security at the service stations”.

“I want the Director in charge of the project to reach out to the Governor of Nasarawa State, so that we can acquire a land within the corridor where we will build the service station and the toll gates.

“We will complete the redesign within 7 days, do not bring any laterite on the road, the road is stable, the pavement is gone and we have to reinstate it.

“Our design is going to be one of the best because we are bringing certain construction materials to add to the strength of the stone base and the asphalt”. – The Minister.

The minister added that the NNPC-funded project should have two construction sites, one in Mararaba section.

He also said that most of the construction was done at night to avoid affecting traffic.

“The traffic is high on the road and if we do anything during the day, it will inconvenience the people. I will be part of the supervision at night.

“We are considering a flyover at the barrack site where we have a lot of traffic.

“So I want us to study it, in seven days to come up with a design of the location. We want before the middle of February to start the construction of a flyover there,” – Umahi

NAN also reported that the project is in Nasarawa State, starting from Mararaba, which is the border between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State.

This project is an important part of Nigeria’s national development plan. It will improve connectivity between Abuja, Lafia, and towns along the route and promote integration between Abuja and surrounding towns.

The completion of the road, together with the first and second phases of the Keffi Road, will boost the economic development of Abuja and Southern Nigeria.

The project was tendered on 19 April 2023, its construction started on 20 December 2023 and is planned to be completed in May 2026.