FG Targets March Ending For Lafia Bypass Road Completion

The Federal Government has assured that the ongoing construction of the Lafia Bypass Road in Nasarawa State will be completed before the end of March.

THE WHISTLER reports that that project involves the construction of a 15.8-kilometre dual carriageway with each carriageway measuring 7.3 metres in width, separated by a concrete median, and 2.75-metre shoulders on both sides.

The project, handled by Messrs CHEC Ltd, has a contract sum of $79,894,920.33.

It was initially awarded on May 22, 2018, but construction formally commenced on February 1, 2024, with an original completion period of 48 months, which is expected to run until January 18, 2028.

Speaking during the national media tour to the project site in Lafia, the Federal Controller of Works in Nasarawa State, Engr. Ishaku Mamri, said that it had recorded significant progress and is now nearing completion.

“The project has gone over 80 per cent completion. We are hoping that with the speed at which the contractor is going, the project will be completed on or before the end of this month, and will be ready for commissioning by the Honourable Minister of Works,” Mamri stated.

He noted that the bypass will serve as an alternative route for commuters traveling through Lafia, particularly those moving between Abuja, Makurdi and the eastern part of the country.

“The project is about 15.8 kilometres, and it’s an alternative route to commuters that are passing from Abuja, Makurdi and to the East. Passing through town can be congested, with a lot of issues in town, but the government deemed it necessary to create an alternative road that will speed up travel time for commuters,” he added.

Mamri further said most of the critical construction components have already been completed.

Also speaking, the contractor’s representative, Engineer Tijani Olalekan Babatunde, said the project had reached over 90 per cent completion within a short period.

“The project actually kickstarted on the first of February 2024. The contract span of the project is supposed to be 48 months, but just two years into the project, we are currently at almost 92.3 per cent completion. So that shows how rigorous and fast we executed this project with quality assurance,” Babatunde said.

He added that the major structural layers of the road have been completed, leaving only the final surface layer.

“Currently, we have completed all the binder course. What we are doing now is just the wearing course, which, by the special grace of God, in the next one week, we should be able to round up the wearing course and do the necessary road traffic facilities for the commuters,” he said.

On his part, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transportation,  Mu’azu Gosho, urged the project supervisors and the contractor to maintain the pace of work to ensure the road is completed within the projected timeline.

“Though my governor had already resolved some of the problems of time wasting by introducing the underpass and overpass there in the town. Again, when I look at the quality of the job, particularly the binder course and the wearing course, when you drive through the road, you will discover that it is of the best standard.

“I employ the supervisors of the project to continue to maintain the tempo and the contractor to speed up and make this completion time a reality,” he said.