Economy
Badagry Expressway construction comes alive with NNPC funding

Eyewitness reporter
Works are expected to resume on the abandoned Badagry Expressway following the mobilisation of funds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The NNPC involvement was part of its N621.23billion funding of 21 Federal roads under the Federal government’s Tax Credit Scheme.
According to Mr. Olukayode Popoola, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, his ministry is fine-tuning modalities for NNPC to mobilize funding for the road project.
Popoola, who briefed Journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, said that the highway would henceforth get lots of attention because of NNPC’s involvement in the project.
“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 declared.
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.
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