The Federal Government has approved the extension of the ongoing Keffi–Nasarawa–Toto Road project by an additional 19 kilometres, increasing the total length from 180km to 199km. This was disclosed by the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, during an inspection visit to federal road projects in Nasarawa State on Saturday.
Umahi explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the extension as part of his administration’s commitment to improving inter-state connectivity and facilitating the seamless movement of people and goods across the North-Central region and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The newly extended Keffi–Nasarawa–Toto–Abaji corridor serves as a key transportation route linking Nasarawa, Kogi, and the FCT, and is expected to significantly boost economic activity and ease mobility in the area.
Project Execution in Phases
According to the Minister, the project will be executed in phases:
- Phase One will cover 7 kilometres and has already been captured in the 2025 federal budget. Procurement for this phase is currently ongoing.
- Phase Two will include the remaining 130 kilometres, with work expected to commence soon after the completion of procurement processes.
Umahi also outlined the technical construction approach, which includes:
- Excavation of failed sections
- Refilling with lumps and sharp sand
- Stabilisation using 2.5 to 3.5% cement
- Compaction with a stone base, followed by phased traffic re-entry for further compaction
For road shoulders, Umahi specified that 20 cm of soil will be excavated, compacted, and refilled with a two-layer stone base (10 cm each), stabilised with 3.5% cement.
The existing wearing course will undergo 4 cm milling, followed by blending with fresh stone base and re-compaction. A binder course and final wearing course will then be applied to complete the structure.
Call for Oversight and Quality Control
The Minister urged state governments to take an active role in supervising federal road projects within their jurisdictions, stressing the need to report lapses or substandard practices by contractors.
“This administration will not tolerate substandard work,” Umahi warned. “States must take ownership of projects within their boundaries by reporting any lapses promptly.”
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all road infrastructure meets international engineering standards and delivers long-term value to citizens.
