Abuja: The Nigerian Government has instructed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) engaged in procurement activities for projects under the 2024 Appropriation to finalise these processes by the end of September 2025. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed the directive to State House Correspondents while speaking on the brief the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to President Bola Tinubu for the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Minister disclosed that more than 70 MDAs are yet to conclude procurement activities for 2024 projects, despite the fact that the budgetary year should have lapsed in December 2024. He said, ‘although the law was extended to allow full implementation, the BPP noted that it is now over 20 months after passage, warning that delays could lead to unnecessary liabilities for government.’
The Minister further stated that the BPP also recommended that President Tinubu obtain a comprehensive overview of all projects awarded by Ministers and their respective Ministries. ‘To this end, it asked that lists of projects under the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years from each Ministry and its Parastatals be forwarded for review, in line with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s (SGF) circular on project reporting,’ he explained.
Reiterating ‘Nigeria First’ policy, the brief urged MDAs to prioritise the use of locally made goods and services in all projects. He said; ‘It highlighted that such goods and services must meet international standards and be certified by relevant government authorities. The BPP, working with the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit, will monitor compliance, with details to be sent to the Presidency for further action.’
‘On the 2025 budget cycle, the BPP advised Ministers to ensure that a significant number of projects are procured through the Open Competitive Bidding Method to boost job creation and poverty reduction. The brief further recommended that the Director-General of the BPP be included in all teams negotiating bilateral loans for infrastructure projects, to ensure that procurement decisions and costings are guided by professional input. It also raised concerns over non-compliance with the Public Procurement Act by some government-owned companies and enterprises, despite the Finance Act 2020 stipulating adherence. The BPP warned that such disregard has led to financial recklessness in some entities, calling for strict enforcement to align all procurement with the law,’ the Minister stated.
Approvals For Transportation
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted approval to the construction of modern bus terminals in each of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones at a total cost of ?142,028,576,008.17. Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, made this known while briefing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. He said the contract was awarded to Messrs Planet Project Limited.
According to the minister, the terminals will be located in Abeokuta (South-West), Gombe (North-East), Kano (North-West), Lokoja (North-Central), Onitsha (South-East), and Ewu in Edo State (South-South). Senator Alkali described the project as the first direct Federal Government intervention in road transport infrastructure beyond road construction, adding that the choice of locations was based on economic viability.
He explained that the absence of purpose-built bus terminals to cater for millions of Nigerian commuters has contributed to rising cases of crime, road traffic accidents, and the proliferation of arms and ammunition on the nation’s highways. ‘This is the first time government is having an intervention in road infrastructure apart from road construction,’ Alkali said. ‘In spite of the significance of road transportation in Nigeria, there are no bus terminals that address the interest of millions of commuters. This has resulted in increased crime, road traffic accidents, and the spread of arms on our highways.’
The minister said the initiative was conceived by the Ministry of Transportation to improve road transport safety, enhance passenger comfort, and boost economic activities. He noted that the proposal was presented to President Tinubu and FEC for approval after careful consideration of the potential impact on national transportation and security.
?493bn Target For Kano-Katsina Road, Carter Bridge
The Federal Government has set a combined target of ?493 billion for the upgrade of the Kano-Katsina Road and the planned construction of a new Carter Bridge in Lagos following approvals by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu. Minister of Works, David Umahi, told State House correspondents after the meeting that the 152-kilometre Kano-Katsina Road, split into two sections by the previous administration, has undergone significant cost reviews due to current economic realities.
According to him, Section One, measuring 74.1 kilometres and originally awarded in 2013 for ?14 billion before being revised to ?24 billion, has now been reviewed to ?68 billion. Section Two, measuring 79.5 kilometres and awarded in 2019 for ?29 billion before a previous review to ?46 billion, has now been further adjusted to ?66.115 billion. The total cost for both sections now stands at about ?134 billion, with ?6 billion provided in the 2024 budget and ?34 billion in the 2025 appropriation for Section One, while Section Two will be funded with ?80 billion across the two years.
Severe deterioration
Speaking on the Carter Bridge, Umahi said underwater studies conducted in 2013 and 2019 revealed severe deterioration of the bridge’s substructure caused by illegal sand mining, erosion, and corrosion of piles and piers. ‘Julius Berger, contracted to undertake underwater and structural repairs, later advised that the bridge was beyond repair and should be replaced entirely.’
He explained that the cost of constructing a new Carter Bridge was estimated at about ?359 billion, and discussions have been held with Deutsche Bank on possible funding. Umahi noted that similar underwater structural issues were identified on the 3rd Mainland Bridge, with rehabilitation projected at ?3.8 trillion and new construction at ?3.6 trillion.
FEC granted approval for the engagement of at least seven specialist contractors under an EPC+F arrangement to carry out comprehensive investigations, designs, and bidding for either rehabilitation or new construction of both the Carter and 3rd Mainland Bridges. In addition, the Council approved advertising for public-private partnership (PPP) bids for the two projects.
The minister also listed other bridge interventions approved by FEC, including the Jalingo Bridge in Taraba State, Ido Bridge (burned and requiring removal of three spans), Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State, Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, a damaged bridge between Abuja and Kogi, bridges between Lagos and Ibadan affected by vehicle impact, Jebba Bridge in Kwara State, and the Itokin-Ikorodu Bridge in Lagos. ‘These emergency works will be articulated and forwarded to Mr. President for approval through the Minister of Finance,’ Umahi said.
N13bn Compensation, $34m Transformer
The Nigerian government has approved four major proposals to strengthen the nation’s national grid and transform the Nigerian power sector. Briefing State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the approvals granted to the Federal Ministry of power are measures targeted to modernise ageing transmission infrastructure, improve supply reliability, and meet rising electricity demand nationwide.
He stated that the first approval was the release of ?13 billion for compensation on right-of-way acquisitions under the Lagos Industrial Transmission Project, funded through a $238 million development loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He emphasised that the project is designed to boost supply to key industrial clusters in Lagos, which contribute significantly to Nigeria’s manufacturing output.
‘This funding covers compensation to property owners and communities affected by the transmission lines’ route. Once completed, the Lagos Industrial Transmission Project will ensure that our industrial estates have the dedicated, stable power they need to drive economic growth and create jobs,’ Adelabu explained.
The other three approvals were given on the procurement and installation of high-capacity transformers to replace weak, overloaded, and obsolete units on the national grid. The equipment procurement is valued at $34 million, with an additional ?5.2 billion for associated costs.
The breakdown includes: two units of 150MVA 330/132kV transformers; three units of 100MVA 132/33kV transformers; five units of 60MVA 132/33kV transformers; and two units of 30MVA 132/33kV transformers. ‘These transformers will be deployed strategically across the grid to relieve overloaded facilities, improve voltage stability, and accommodate the increased transmission capacity we are building,’ the minister said.
Adelabu described Nigeria’s national grid as an aging system, with much of its infrastructure having been in operation for over fifty years and functioning well beyond its intended lifespan. ‘Many of the transformers, cables and related components are weak and prone to failure. Regular maintenance and timely replacement are essential if we are to achieve a stable, reliable and effective grid that meets the needs of households, offices, small businesses and industries,’ he added.
He assured that the latest approvals represent a significant step in the Tinubu administration’s broader power sector reform agenda, aimed at eliminating transmission bottlenecks, reducing system collapses, and laying a foundation for sustainable economic growth through improved electricity access.