The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated the construction of the first and second sections of the expanded Lokoja – Benin Expressway project, with a combined investment of NGN22.7bn ($144.2m).

The new project, which will be built over the next 30 months, is a part of the government’s efforts to develop the country’s major roads and improve its economic activities, reported The News Agency of Nigeria.

Section one of the project, which is set to cost NGN11.66bn ($74.1m), covers Obajana to Okene, and will handled by CGC Nigeria.

The second section of the project, which runs from Okene to Auchi and costs NGN11.09bn ($70.4m), will be handled by Mother-Cat Nigeria.

The overall Lokoja – Benin Expressway project comprises four sections, and is worth NGN65.2bn ($414.4m).

"The project is a part of the present administration’s bid to develop the six geo-political zones in Nigeria by constructing arterial roads."

The final two sections of the scheme are Auchi-Ehor and Ehor-Benin City.

Nigerian minister of works Mike Onolememen said that the project was a continuation of the expansion of parts of Route A2, which stretch from Abuja to Lokoja.

The funding of the Abuja-Lokoja highway from the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) will speed up the completion of works on the latest road project, Onolememen said.

The minister said that the project is a part of the present administration’s bid to develop the six geo-political zones in Nigeria by constructing arterial roads.

In 2012, the Federal Executive Council of Nigeria approved an NGN65.2bn ($412.2m) contract for the reconstruction of the third phase of the Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Shagamu expressway in the capital city of Abuja.

The project includes the total reconstruction of Km9 to Km18 and Km75 to Km162 sections along the stretch, comprising three lanes on each carriageway.