Ministry Officials Pay Condolence Visit to Essan Community Over Lives Lost in Tanker Explosion ~ Promise Accelerated Palliative Works   The Federal Ministry of Works has extended its heartfelt condolences to the people of Essan Community in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State following the tragic tanker explosion that claimed several lives and caused extensive damage in the area. The delegation, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate incident. The Director, Highways, North Central, delivered the Minister’s message. Salihu Kolapo Ahmed, during a visit to the community head, the Dekechi of Essan, Alhaji Muhammad Dauda Muhammad. Engr. Umahi commiserated with the bereaved families and the entire community, describing the incident as a painful and avoidable tragedy. He assured the people that the Federal Government remains committed to improving the condition of the road network in the country to prevent similar accidents in the future. > “The Federal Ministry of Works mourns with you at this difficult time. We pray for the peaceful repose of the departed souls and strength for the families they left behind,” Engr. Umahi conveyed through his representative. “This sad event underscores the urgent need to accelerate, especially, the ongoing Reconstruction of the Lambata-Lapai-Agaie-Bida Road in Niger State. We are fully committed to ensuring safer and more reliable road infrastructure to avert future occurrences of such tragedies.” Following the message, prayers were offered for the repose of the departed souls and divine comfort for the grieving families. Responding, the Dekechi of Essan, Alhaji Muhammad, expressed deep appreciation to the Honourable Minister for his compassion and prompt response. He lamented the poor condition of the road linking the area, describing it as a “death trap” that has continued to endanger the lives of road users. > “We thank the Honourable Minister for standing with us in our moment of grief. The bad state of the road has made movement extremely difficult and dangerous. We appeal to the Federal Government to give urgent attention to this route so that lives can be saved,” the community head said. He called on the management of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to stop, forthwith, the overburdening of articulated vehicles with human beings, revealing that most of those who lost their lives in the inferno were such travelers not indigenes. The Ministry reaffirmed its resolve to prioritise the reconstruction of the road as part of ongoing efforts to enhance road safety, ease transportation challenges, and support economic development in the State and Nigeria, in general. “The Honourable Minister has directed that immediate assessments be carried out on the affected section with a view to implementing lasting engineering solutions that will improve safety and mobility,” Engr. Ahmed stressed. The visit underscores the Ministry’s human-centered approach under the leadership of Engr. David Umahi, CON, remains focused on building durable road infrastructure and responding promptly to the needs and concerns of Nigerian communities affected by road-related tragedies. Engr. Ahmed described the pace of work on the affected alignment as “too slow and unacceptable,” directing the contractor, Messrs CGC (Nig.) Ltd. to quickly deploy more resources and approach the work from more locations. “The contractor needs to mobilise more equipment to the site and let us have free movement of vehicles. Failure to do so, in the next few days, will attract decisive action,” he stated. The Project Manager, Mr. Fan Bo, assured that the company would mobilise more equipment within days to intensify work and ease the movement of people, goods, and services on the critically failed portions of the road.  The Deputy Director, Construction at the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Development, Niger State, Engr. Nasir Ahmed, disclosed that the Minister’s directive was aimed at ensuring free vehicular movement and reducing frequent accidents along the busy corridor. “This is a follow-up to the Niger State governor’s efforts. The Minister wants serious action so that there will be no more gridlocks or accidents on this road,” he added. He urged motorists, especially truck drivers, to remain patient and cooperate with the contractors during the construction period.  “Their impatience causes a lot of the nuisances we see. They should be patient and follow instructions so that work can progress smoothly,” he advised. The 124.8-kilometre project, awarded several years ago, was phased into two sections by the current administration, with Phase 1 covering 92 kilometres from Lambata to Agaei, valued at N39 billion, remaining 10 kilometres to completion, and Phase 2, which covers the most critical section from Agaei to Bida, is soon to be awarded. ...

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIP WITH ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK TO ACCELERATE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has reiterated the Federal Government's commitment to strengthening partnerships with international development institutions to fast-track the completion of major road and bridge projects across the country. Engr. Umahi said this on the 22nd  October 2025, when he received a delegation from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Regional Hub (RH) in Nigeria, led by its Team Leader, Operations, Mr. Ibrahim Chalive, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja. The discussions held, centred on deepening the collaboration between the Federal Ministries of Works,  Finance, and the IsDB, to fund and implement key components of the Four (4) Renewed Hope Legacy Road Projects under the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Honourable Minister also emphasised that infrastructure remains a major driver of economic growth, noting that the Ministry is committed to transparent, innovative, and cost-effective project delivery. He reaffirmed that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda accords high priority to road development as a catalyst for economic emancipation, job creation, and improved mobility of goods and people nationwide. He also expressed a profound gratitude and appreciation to the Honourable Members of the National Assembly for their support towards infrastructure development, particularly in facilitating funding interventions that align with the Renewed Hope Legacy Projects. Umahi further commended the Islamic Development Bank for its sustained interest and partnership in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector, describing the visit as a constructive step toward consolidating gains already achieved and expanding the scope of cooperation. In his remarks, Mr.  Chalive conveyed the Bank’s satisfaction with the Ministry’s ongoing reforms in engineering design, quality assurance, and project management. He assured that the Bank remains committed to providing both financial and technical support to strengthen Nigeria’s infrastructure base. After their discussions, both parties agreed to establish a joint technical team to identify priority areas and develop a framework for collaboration that ensures accountability, transparency, and timely project delivery. This reinforced collaboration marks another milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to modernise Nigeria’s road network and advance the vision of sustainable national development. In attendance at the meeting was the Special Assistant to the President (S.A.-P.), Stakeholders Engagement, South East, Barr. Chioma Nweze. Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director, Press and Public Relations. 22nd October 2025. ...

WORKS MINISTER,SEN. UMAHI REPRIMANDS CCECC NIGERIA LIMITED OVER POOR CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY ON ABA BOUND OF ENUGU-PORT HARCOURT EXPRESSWAY, DESCOPES PORT HARCOURT BOUND,ISSUES 14 DAYS TERMINATION NOTICE  FOR SUB-STANDARD PERFORMANCE In his avowed determination to entrench the new construction codes and regulations in the  method statement of  construction works under the Federal Ministry of Works, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen Engr. Nweze David Umahi,CON, has reprimanded the poor construction methodology deployed by China Civil Engineering Construction Company Limited on the rehabilitation  works on the Aba bound of the Rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, contract No. 6252. The Honourable Minister, who was on a routine supervision of ongoing road projects within South South and South East on Sunday 19th October 2025, expressed displeasure over the recalcitrance of the contractor in complying with the new construction codes and regulations which are aimed at building enduring road infrastructure  for the nation. Speaking during  the inspection visit, the Honourable Minister decried the state  of the 43-km  Aba-Port Harcourt  inherited  ongoing project handled by CCECC, which he said was on the verge of total collapse. He directed that a 14-day notice of termination be issued to the contractor, having regard to the various warning letters issued to the contractor over their poor construction performance on the said job. He further directed  that the Port Harcourt bound of the project be descoped and reawarded to a competent contractor. "If you get to Port Harcourt end, which they did about two years or thereabout, the entire road has almost totally failed. We have been writing them to maintain this road. They have refused, and so I have to take responsibility and take decision. Number one, the Port Harcourt bound is descoped, no longer going to be done by CCECC.I will direct the Ministry of Works to scout out for very qualified indigenous contractors to handle the Port Harcourt bound. *They should be the contractor that will start work immediately  while we sort out for funds for them._Number two, for the site handled by CCECC, they should issue them 14 days notice of termination of the job. And I want this directive to go very wide. After 14 days, they fail to mill out the binder and replace it properly,the job will be terminated; they have to initiate it; they have to commit to doing that. Even if they are going to do it during the dry season, they have to maintain the ones that they have done and they  put in writing that they're going to mill out the binder at their own cost, and then be able to put a new binder, which we have paid for. He reiterated  that putting binder for a stretch of the project without putting wearing is unacceptable. On another development, the Hounourable Minister has commended  the quality of work on the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction  of  Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway, Section II - Umuahia  Tower-Aba Rail/ Road crossing in Abia State, Contract  No. 6209  handled  by M/S  Arab Contractors  O. A. O Nigeria Limited. The 56-km inherited ongoing project was noted to have reached 85% completion. "They are one of our best, the first five. Even we want them to maintain from Aba to Umuahia, the completed section. So they're working very hard. The controller is also doing very well. I wish the controller to visit all the projects of the Federal Government in Abia State. He should be able to visit all the projects in Abia State at least once a week, so that if there is a problem of impending danger, impending of problem of cost, you let us know. The Honourable Minister noted the terrible situation of inherited road projects nationwide, which are all receiving  priority intervention by the Renewed Hope administration of the President of Nigeria,His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR He thanked Mr. President for the encouragement given to the Federal Ministry of Works to turn around the road development trajectory of Nigeria. _"In Nigeria, all the roads became a priority because of the terrible situation of the roads that the President inherited. But he's doing his best. And we are also working with him to offer our best in the country. We feel so bad when our people can't move from one point to the other all over the country. I feel so sad. That is usually my lowest moment. But, I'm still encouraged with the support the president is giving on roads and bridges because that is the basis of economic activities, and I think that we are very lucky to have him because the economy is breaking now. We are the third largest growing economy in the whole world, so we will get there" Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji  Special Adviser ( Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works 20th October 2025 ...