July 15 (Bloomberg) - Nigeria will seek fresh bids for the construction of a second runway at Abuja’s airport after canceling a contract earlier awarded for the project, Aviation Minister Fidelia Njeze said.

The original contract valued at 64 billion naira ($425 million), awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc last year, was terminated by the government and fresh bids will be advertised next week, Njeze said in a statement published today on the Nigerian presidency website.

Nigerian lawmakers had criticized the deal with Julius Berger for a 4.6 kilometer (2.9-mile) runway as exorbitant, saying that a full airport, including a 3.8 kilometer runway and terminal building was built in Ethiopia at the cost of $130 million.

Bloomberg Businessweek 28th July