FG Partner Indian Firm On Road Construction

The Federal Government said recently that it would
collaborate with India’s IL & FS Engineering and Construction Company
Limited to construct roads and build toll gates.

The Minister of State for Works, Mr Bashir Yuguda, said this in Abuja when Mr Ravi Sreahari, led a delegation of the company on a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Works.

Yuguda said the ministry would collaborate with the Indian
company for the construction of toll gates on the
Ilorin-Mokwa-Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna road in line with government’s transformation
agenda to attract foreign investors and share ideas in the sector.

“We have acknowledged our collaboration with your company on
these major roads; you will come up with your feasibility studies and other
technical details and submit to the ministry for further scrutiny.

“These are very important roads in the country and we
experience a lot of traffic on them because they are major link roads from and
into Lagos, which is the commercial hub of Nigeria.’’

He said the Federal Government attached a lot of importance
to the roads, which cover a distance of about 500 km.

“So, right now we are waiting for your proposal which must
be guided by our performance practice when it comes to the issue of
public-private partnership.’’

Yuguda said the road project contract would be subjected to
the laws and regulations of Nigeria through the Infrastructure Concession
Regulatory Commission.

He said the Minister of Work Mr Mike Onolememen’s visit to
India to inspect some of the company’s project and its tolling policy was
encouraging.