The Federal Government has approved night construction work to speed up the 43.65-kilometre Mararaba-Keffi road reconstruction and expansion project, funded under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme. The Minister of State for Works, Hon. Muhammad Bello Goronyo, announced this on Oct. 2 during an inspection of the project, handled by China Harbour Engineering Company Nigeria Limited.
In a statement by Mohammed Abdullahi Ahmed, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, Goronyo expressed worry over the slow progress and heavy traffic jams on the road, which connects the Federal Capital Territory to Nasarawa State. He noted that the daily gridlock affects thousands of commuters, especially civil servants living along the route, causing them to arrive late to work.
“The project is of national importance. The traffic volume here is massive, and many public servants are suffering. The government has granted approval for night construction to fast-track delivery and ease the hardship faced by commuters. The contractor must rise to the occasion and utilise this approval effectively,” the Minister said.
The Project Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Dong Hong, responded by assuring that the company is committed to meeting the delivery schedule. “We understand the importance of this road and the urgency to ease traffic. Our team is fully mobilised, and we are committed to delivering quality work on time,” Hong said.
The Mararaba-Keffi project is part of the Federal Government’s plan to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure gap through creative financing like the Tax Credit Scheme, where private companies fund road projects in exchange for tax relief. The Ministry of Works reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring all ongoing projects are completed efficiently, on time, and to high standards, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
