Senator Karimi Clears Air on N43 Billion FEC Approval, Confirms Ilorin-Egbe Project Phased, But Kogi End is Secured in 2025 Budget

The controversy and confusion that followed the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval of N43 billion for Phase One of the Ilorin–Omuaran–Egbe Road have been addressed by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), who moved to reassure his constituents that their section of the critical highway has not been neglected.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the approval yesterday, Thursday, November 6, 2025, detailing that the N43 billion would cover a 31-kilometre stretch from the Kwara State axis. This sparked worry among Kogi West residents who had expected the abandoned project, originally designated as the Kabba–Egbe–Ilorin Road, to recommence from their end where work halted years ago.

In a statement released by his media team today, Friday, November 7, 2025, Senator Karimi clarified that the N43 billion approval refers to specific sections of the 216-kilometre road that were already ongoing under the previous administration but had just received the necessary price and design review approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Kogi Section Secured

Crucially, the Senator affirmed that this recent FEC decision “does not foreclose” the serious efforts being made to rehabilitate the utterly deplorable section connecting Kogi West.

“The section from Isanlu, Yagba East, which is also ongoing, has been funded with about N9 billion facilitated by the Senator and is securely included in the 2025 Appropriation Bill,” the statement read. This vital section is currently undergoing the BPP approval process for a contract review, with its entire reconstruction estimated at N25 billion.

Karimi emphasized that obtaining final FEC approval for this N25 billion review is imperative, as it would guarantee the necessary release of funds and assure contractors of payment, enabling them to mobilize fully to the site. The current lack of fund release has been cited as a major reason hindering progress on the Kogi end.

The Senator concluded by assuring the people of Kogi West that he remains fully committed to ensuring the road is rehabilitated as a short-term measure and ultimately reconstructed with durable concrete pavement to meet the daily demands of commuters and boost economic activities in the region.