The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said in a press briefing that the three major Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) projects would be complete before President Buhari’s tenure ends.
Current situation
The three major Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) projects include the construction of Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the second Niger bridge and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria expressways.
- PIDF projects have collectively provided 5,246 direct jobs and 13,998 indirect jobs.
- Analyzing the project’s GDP shows a significant growth in the construction and mining sector of the state in which these projects are ongoing.
What he’s saying
According to the former Lagos State governor, they scheduled the bridge for completion in February 2022, but Covid-19 lockdown and #EndSars’ protest extended the date. While the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is on track for completion this year, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria road would be completed before the end of President Buhari, he says.
Financial Analysis
The total cost of these three projects currently stands at N1.3 trillion. A breakdown of the total cost shows that the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway (375km) cost N797 billion while the Second Niger Bridge (11.59km) and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (127km) cost N206 billion and N310 billion, respectively.
Economic importance of PIDF projects
The second Niger bridge connects Asaba, Delta State to Onitsha, a town in Anambra State that hosts one of the biggest markets in Nigeria and West Africa. A second Niger bridge would ease the traffic that currently burdens thousands of workers, traders and commuters plying that route.
Lagos-Ibadan expressway is a key facilitator to the East-West trade network in Nigeria. The 127km road houses highway economic opportunities that would provide jobs for thousands of Nigerians. These economic activities include advertising, towing services, relaxation centers, etc.
The Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway enables the movement of people from the North to the South of Nigeria. This route would help farmers in the northern region of Nigeria transport their farm produce to other parts of the country with ease.