75 firms bid for concession of 12 federal roads

The Federal Government says a total of 75 companies have submitted concession bids for 12 highways under the first phase of the Highway Development Management Initiative.

Head of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs Abimbola Asein, stated this on Tuesday.

Successful concessionaires are likely to erect toll plazas on the affected roads for motorists to pay for the use of the highways.

Asein gave the affected roads as Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Onitsha-Aba-Owerri, Sagamu-Benin, Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga, Kano-Maiduguri, Kano-Katsina, Lokoja-Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba, Lagos-Abeokuta and Lagos-Badagry.

A statement by Director of Press and Public Relations Boade Akinola, quoted Asein as saying the HDMI was designed to attract investment and funding.

The ministry, she said, was working with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and other stakeholders on the initiative.

It stated, “The buy-in of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Assembly has been obtained.

“The nation is looking forward to a robust procurement process that will attract capable concessionaires that will develop and manage these routes.”

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini, was quoted as saying that the request for qualification bid opening ceremony signalled the commencement of the value-added concession evaluation exercise.

He said, “The ministry shall ensure that the procurement process is in line with the ICRC Act and approved public-private partnership guidelines.”

Hussaini said those who meet the basic prequalification criteria would be shortlisted and subsequently invited for the request for proposal stage.