Lagos, Nigeria – The Federal Ministry of Works has earmarked ₦4 billion for the construction of a presidential helipad and jetty in Lagos State as part of its allocations under the proposed 2025 appropriation bill.
The expenditure was highlighted in the ministry’s projected budget, which is part of the broader ₦49.7 trillion budget presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on December 18, 2024. The budget, themed “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace and Rebuilding Prosperity,” aims to drive Nigeria’s progress in peacebuilding, infrastructure development, and prosperity.
Ministry’s Allocations for Infrastructure Development
An analysis of the ministry’s proposed budget revealed a total allocation of ₦1.057 trillion for construction and rehabilitation projects. Among these:
- ₦240 million is earmarked for public school construction.
- ₦724 billion will be directed toward road construction projects.
- ₦40.6 billion is reserved for other infrastructure projects.
For rehabilitation projects, the ministry allocated:
- ₦340 million for public schools.
- ₦289.4 billion for road repairs.
- ₦2.48 billion for office buildings.
Road Projects
The ministry’s budget includes major road projects across Nigeria, with significant allocations such as:
- ₦10 billion for the dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri Road (Section V) connecting Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, and Borno states.
- ₦6 billion for the reconstruction of the Abuja-Lokoja Road.
- ₦12 billion for the construction of Section One of the Kano-Wudil-Shuarin Road.
- ₦34 billion for the dualisation of the Kano-Katsina Road.
- ₦23 billion for the rehabilitation of Sections Three and Four of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road.
- ₦75 billion for the first phase of the Kano-Katsina Road dualisation.
Additionally, ₦15 billion was allocated for rehabilitating failed sections of the Bauchi-Jigawa State Border Road, ₦1 billion for the David Umahi Federal Medical University Road, and ₦2 billion for the Lekki Axial Road counterpart funding.
Other Allocations
The ministry’s budget further includes allocations for administrative expenses, legal obligations, and public-private partnership initiatives:
- ₦5 billion for judgment debts and another ₦5 billion for legal fees.
- ₦280 million for maintaining seven generators.
- ₦1.7 billion for renovating office buildings.
- ₦77.1 billion for public-private partnership (PPP) due diligence and negotiations.
- ₦15 billion for an independent engineer for the Abuja-Makurdi Road project.
- ₦10.25 billion for a pilot Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) corridor engineer.
- ₦10 million for engaging media consultants and stakeholders.
Presidential Helipad and Jetty
The construction of a ₦4 billion presidential helipad and jetty in Lagos aligns with the government’s strategy to enhance presidential mobility and state infrastructure. While the specifics of the project’s timeline and implementation are yet to be disclosed, it underscores the administration’s emphasis on modernising key infrastructure in strategic locations.
President Tinubu has reiterated that the proposed budget reflects his administration’s commitment to fostering peace, rebuilding prosperity, and creating a more secure and prosperous future for Nigeria.