The federal government is to spend N73.9 billion to complete the reconstruction and expansion of the Maraba-Keffi road project.

The government also set a 13-month completion date of June 2026 for the project awarded to MS. China Harbour Engineering Company(CHEC) Nigeria Limited.

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, made this known while inspecting the ongoing expansion of the Abuja-Keffi expressway on Saturday.

Mr Goronyo commended President Bola Tinubu for making the project a reality.

He said the completion of the road would in no small measure reduce the transportation problems on the corridor.

“We have completed the road from Keffi to Makurdi, and the one from Mararaba up to Keffi is now ongoing.

” Makurdi to Enugu is ongoing, and achievable progress has been gotten from the contractor.

“What we are expecting is that by June next year, the entire stretch of this road from Abuja up to Port Harcourt will be completed,” he said.

Mr Goronyo said the government had opened a corridor for the movement of goods and services, adding that this had translated to a reduction in travel time and other economic benefits.

“This contract was awarded in June 2023 with a completion period of 30 months,” he said. ” Work started here in December last year, and now you can see that they have gotten up to 42 per cent completion.”

Mr Goronyo also said the ministry was waiting for a certificate from the contractor so that more funds would be released for the project.

He said the ministry would work out modalities to expand the lanes on the road for the benefit of Nigerians.

Speaking on behalf of the contractor, Ronald Liao, CHEC commercial manager, said the road would achieve a 56 per cent benchmark by month’s end.

Mr Liao explained that the company could not reach the benchmark on time due to the heavy traffic on the corridor.

“The traffic flow from Masaka to Mararaba daily is very heavy. So, we have no other choice but to work at night.

“However, with the help of the ministry and with the help of the controller and also the help of the FRSC, we will complete the work within the right time,” Mr Liao said.

(NAN