The Nigerian Federal Government has signed up two construction firms to carry out the upgrade of the Lagos-Benin Expressway.

The first N9.74bn contract has been awarded to US firm Reynolds Construction to repair the Salami-Ajebandele-Ore-Benin section of the Ajebandele-Ofosu road in Ondo State, with work expected to finish in 30 months.

Italian firm Borini Prono has won the second N2.5bn contract to carry out the Shagamu-Ajebandele-Ore-Benin Road in Ogun State, with work expected to finish in 18 months.

The two contracts, worth $80m (N12.2bn), are for rebuilding and rehabilitating two sections of the expressway.

Work has already begun on the two sections.