UMAHI ISSUES STRONG WARNING TO NON-PERFORMING CONTRACTORS, SAYS TINUBU MUST NOT BE BLAMED FOR PROJECT DELAYS The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has issued a strong warning to contractors handling Federal Government road projects, urging them to fulfil their contractual obligations and eliminate the factors that give rise to unwarranted criticism of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Speaking during an extensive inspection tour of ongoing road and bridge projects in Kogi and Edo States, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work on some sections of the Abuja-Lokoja Dual Carriageway and the Dualisation of Obajana Junction -Benin Road. He disclosed that, due to funding constraints, the scope of one of the Sections of the Abuja-Lokoja road had to be reduced from 49.28 kilometres to 28 kilometres to concentrate available resources on the most critical portions. "I am very sad with what I saw on the ground. What was reported to us is not reflected in the actual work being done," the Minister observed. Engr. Umahi reiterated the Ministry's directive that no section of the Federal highway should remain closed for more than 14 days during construction. He subsequently issued an ultimatum to the affected contractor to complete the required section within the stipulated period or risk termination of the contract. The Minister, however, commended Messrs JRB Construction Company for the quality and pace of work on its project, describing the company as a model of professionalism and commitment. According to him, "If everybody does his job accordingly, there will be no reason to shift the blame to Mr. President." He also issued a 72-hour ultimatum to GELD Construction Company, handling one of the sections, to effectively utilise funds already released to demonstrate visible progress on the project. According to the Minister, a substantial percentage of Nigeria's Federal road network had deteriorated before the advent of the present administration, stressing that President Tinubu inherited enormous infrastructure challenges but has continued to make significant strides to restore and modernise the nation's road sector. He further directed the Federal Controllers of Works (FCW), Engineers’ Representatives (E.R.), and project supervisors to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and enforce greater accountability, insisting that all procurement processes and expenditures must be properly justified. As part of the inspection tour, the Minister visited the reconstruction of the existing pavement and completion of the additional carriageway on Section III of the Abuja–Lokoja Dual Carriageway, including works being executed by Trucrete Solutions Limited on the Koton Karfe–Abuja alignment. He also inspected two critical bridge projects along the same corridor, as well as the ongoing dualisation of the Lokoja–Benin Road. The projects inspected include Section I, Obajana Junction–Okene, and Section II  covering the Okene–Auchi corridor across Kogi and Edo States. The Minister further assessed progress on the flyover and interchange components of the project being executed by CCG Contractors, with the flyovers at approximately 80 percent completion and the interchange at about 30 percent. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Heacho Onyesoh, commended Engr. Umahi for his visionary leadership and firm commitment to ensuring value for public funds. He noted that political office holders can no longer continue to bear responsibility for the poor performance of contractors, stressing that Nigerians expect tangible results and timely project delivery. Senator Onyesoh also appealed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure the timely release of funds for ongoing projects. He added that the Committee would reserve its final assessment pending the level of commitment and progress demonstrated by the contractors. Similarly, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, called on all stakeholders to support the Ministry in delivering a quality road network across the country. He emphasised that road development is a collective responsibility and observed that President Tinubu has entrusted the Ministry with the critical task of ensuring efficient project execution. Addressing contractors, Hon. Alabi assured them that the Federal Government remains committed to meeting all legitimate payment obligations, while commending JRB Construction Company for its significant investment and commitment to Nigeria's infrastructure development. The Managing Director of GELD Construction Company, Mr. Fadi Azimi, assured the delegation that the company would intensify work and ensure improved project delivery, in line with the Ministry's expectations. The Ministry reaffirmed its determination to address the challenge of non-performing contractors and reiterated its commitment to strengthening supervision, accountability, and the timely delivery of quality road and bridge infrastructure across the country.   ...

TINUBU’S FOUR LEGACY PROJECTS WILL LINK ALL SIX GEOPOLITICAL ZONES SAYS UMAHI AS ECOWAS BANK MOVES TO APPROVE FUND FOR CALABAR-ABUJA SUPER HIGHWAY The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's four legacy road projects as a transformative national infrastructure network that will connect all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, unlock economic opportunities, boost food security, and accelerate regional integration. Umahi stated this on Monday, June 8, 2026, while receiving a delegation from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), led by Maimouna Sidibe, Head of the Basic Infrastructure Division, Department of Public Sector Corporations, at his office in Abuja. The EBID team is currently undertaking appraisal activities ahead of the approval of financing for Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway, one of President Tinubu's landmark legacy projects. Welcoming the delegation, the Minister explained that the President's four legacy road projects were deliberately designed to function as an interconnected national transport network. "Let me say that the entire four Legacy Projects of Mr. President are interconnected in a loop," Umahi said. He explained that the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway seamlessly links with the Trans-Sahara Super Highway through Ndibe Beach in Cross River State.  According to him, Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway spans 123.64 kilometres and runs from Ndibe Beach to the Benue border, while additional sections through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States have already been awarded. The Minister noted that the historic route has existed since colonial times, serving as a major corridor for trade and agricultural activities. "It has long existed and remains a major food corridor. It is critical to food sufficiency in our country," he stated. Highlighting the economic significance of the project, Umahi said the highway would connect major agricultural belts across the country, including Ebonyi, Benue and Cross River States, while significantly reducing travel time between Calabar and Abuja. "This route will shorten travel time from Calabar to Abuja to about four hours. It is therefore a very important corridor," he said. Beyond transportation, the Minister revealed plans to harness existing dams along the corridor for irrigation and renewable energy generation, creating new opportunities for industrialization, investment and job creation. "There are many benefits to this project. Beyond tolling and corridor development for investment returns, it will generate numerous jobs, both direct and indirect. There will be factories along the corridor, power projects, and significant traffic volumes on the road," he added. Umahi further explained how the Trans-Sahara Super Highway connects to the fourth Legacy Project through the Abuja-Akwanga Road corridor, extending through Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Biu and Maiduguri. He noted that the recently flagged-off Gombe-Biu section covers 125 kilometres and is being constructed as a six-lane highway, while procurement activities are ongoing for the Bauchi-Gombe section. He also outlined plans to link the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway through a new route beginning at Victoria Island, traversing a 3.5-kilometre tunnel, Ogogoro Island and Snake Island before connecting to Badagry. "When you look at all of this on a map, you see a loop. All the geopolitical zones are included," Umahi said. "If you start from Sokoto, you can access all six geopolitical zones within two days. It is a remarkable development." Commending the contractor handling Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway, Infioues, the Minister disclosed that work has already exceeded 20 percent completion. "My concern is that we need to fast-track the loan component because once they reach 30 percent completion, payments will become necessary," he said. He described the visit of the EBID delegation as timely and praised the bank for its commitment to supporting the strategic project. "That is why your visit is very timely, and we commend you highly. I also appreciate the meeting we had earlier. It was very fruitful, and I believe we are aligned in terms of enthusiasm and speed of execution." Earlier, leader of the EBID mission, Maimouna Sidibe, reaffirmed the bank's commitment to supporting the project, describing it as a priority infrastructure investment. "We are very honored to contribute to the financing of this very important project, which have been submitted last week to our first credit committee." Sidibe disclosed that the project had already received positive consideration from the bank's first credit committee and had advanced to the appraisal stage. "The members find this project very important and encourage the department to come to finalize the instruction of the projects." She explained that the delegation's visit included consultations with key government agencies as well as site inspections to assess project implementation, environmental compliance and social safeguards. According to her, the project is expected to proceed to the bank's second credit committee next week before being presented to the Board of Executive Directors in early July for final approval. Sidibe commended the Federal Government's commitment to the project, noting that counterpart funding obligations had already been substantially fulfilled. "I have to say that the project is of a very top priority for the administration, and that's why the administration have paid 30 percent of the counterpart money." She also praised the quality of work already delivered on the project and expressed confidence in the durability of the road infrastructure. "The members of the credit committees said that this technology is very, very good and already experienced on Lagos-Calabar, and the road duration will be at least for 50 years." The delegation included Mathieu Anno, Head of the Environment and Sustainability Unit at EBID; Onimisi Aliyu, Financial Analyst at EBID; Blaghe Dougah, Head of ESG Department at Sky Capital Europe; and Sheka Humphrey of Influence International, the project contractor.   ...

NORTH-CENTRAL ROAD PROJECTS UNDER SPOTLIGHT AS WORKS MINISTER SUSTAINS ROUTINE INSPECTION OF PROJECTS The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work on the Reconstruction and Expansion of the 43.65-kilometre Mararaba–Keffi Road. He made the remarks while inspecting ongoing Federal Government road projects in the FCT and Nasarawa State. The contractor on the Mararaba–Keffi (Keffi Bound) Road project is China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Ltd. During the inspection of projects within the corridor, the Minister also commended another contractor, Messrs JRB Construction Company, for the standard of work being delivered in the Full Emergency Rehabilitation of the Mararaba–Keffi (Abuja-Bound) Road. He expressed confidence that the project would be completed before the scheduled 1st March, 2028 deadline, with ancillary components, including the installation of solar-powered street lighting. “This is highly commendable. The quality of work is evident, and I encourage you to sustain this standard through to completion,” the Minister urged the Contractor. Engr. Umahi reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ending the era of abandoned and substandard infrastructure projects that have impeded national development over time. He stressed the need for contractors to adhere strictly to approved specifications, contractual obligations, and the Ministry’s directives, while maintaining open communication with the Ministry on operational challenges. “If you encounter any difficulty, inform us immediately. The Federal Government remains committed to meeting its obligations, including timely payments. However, quality must never be compromised,” he asserted. The Minister further directed the contractor to prioritise the completion of all outstanding sections of the road before commencing additional asphalt works. He noted that several projects across the country had suffered setbacks due to unfinished stretches and emphasised that the Ministry’s priority is the delivery of durable, safe, and fully serviced infrastructure that will serve Nigerians for decades. The Minister also inspected the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Road, Section II, being handled by Messrs Infiouest International Ltd. He noted that completion of outstanding works is scheduled for 12th November, 2026. Also speaking during the tour of duty, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Allwell Onyesoh, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, alongside the Member representing Akwanga/Wamba/Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency, Hon. Jeremiah Sa’idu, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the renewed momentum in infrastructure development across the nation. They described the ongoing road projects as strategic investments capable of stimulating economic growth, improving connectivity, facilitating trade and commerce, and enhancing national integration. They pledged their continued support and oversight of the projects. Also speaking is the Federal Controller of Works, FCT, Engr.  Mohammed Usman highlighted the level of commitment demonstrated in the execution of the ongoing projects. He commended the Minister for his hands-on leadership and consistent supervision, as well as the contractors for maintaining quality standards and ensuring steady progress on the projects. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central Zone, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, lauded President Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians through sustained investments in critical infrastructure, agricultural empowerment programmes, and other people-centred initiatives designed to promote economic prosperity and ease of movement. In his briefing, the Managing Director of JRB Construction Company, Mr. Jamilu Ogunbola, disclosed that the company’s participation in the Abuja–Keffi Road project demonstrates the growing capacity of indigenous construction firms to successfully execute complex infrastructure projects, in line with global standards and best practices. The inspection tour further highlights the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure the timely completion and delivery of critical road projects across the country in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu. The Ministry remains committed to sustaining the current pace of infrastructure development as a catalyst for transformation, national cohesion, and improved quality of life for all Nigerians. ...