Federal Ministry of Works

Aug

2026

LATEST PRESS

“THE WORST IS OVER; OUR GDP IS GROWING MORE THAN OUR POPULATION. THAT MEANS WE HAVE A FUTURE” - UMAHI TELLS NANS

— As Nigerian Students Induct Him as Grand Patron, Hail Him as “One of the Finest” in Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Cabinet

The Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has declared that Nigeria is now seeing stronger economic outlook under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is now growing faster than its population.

Umahi made the declaration on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, while speaking after he was formally inducted as Patron of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

The minister described the development as a positive indication of Nigeria’s economic prospects, saying, “I was enthused to find out that our GDP is growing more than our population. That means we have a future.”

The NANS leadership, led by its President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS, had earlier commended Umahi for his contributions to national infrastructure and described him as “a worthy member of the Renewed Hope Cabinet and, indeed, as one of the finest public servants Nigeria has produced in the contemporary era.”

The students said the recognition was not merely ceremonial but a reflection of Umahi’s visible contribution to road infrastructure and national development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

According to NANS, the roads and bridges being delivered under Umahi’s supervision are directly connected to the lives of Nigerian students, affecting their mobility, access to educational institutions, examinations, internships, businesses and employment opportunities.

The students specifically cited major projects including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Minna route, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as examples of projects they said demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to improving national connectivity.

Afeez also disclosed that NANS had studied project reports of the Federal Ministry of Works covering the period between May 2023 and May 2026 and expressed its intention to embark on nationwide project tours to inspect completed and rehabilitated projects.

He said the students would use their platforms to communicate the impact of the projects to millions of Nigerian students, Nigerians and the wider world.

Responding, Umahi challenged Nigerian students and young people to look beyond political sentiments and examine the policies and achievements of the Tinubu administration objectively.

“We have had somebody say, ‘President Tinubu is tired.’ How do you know he is tired? I am part of President Tinubu. The Minister of Interior, the FCT, all the ministers and all the SSAs are vibrant and working. So how do you just jump at that conclusion?”

The minister urged Nigerians to demand concrete alternatives from those criticising the administration.

“If you say that the President is not doing well, what is your alternative?” he asked, stressing that political promises must be backed by clear plans and a credible mission.

He also called on students and other young Nigerians to take a position on issues affecting the country, arguing that remaining neutral in the face of visible progress was not always the right approach.

“You may say that you are not politicians or that you will not take sides, but this is the time to take sides in our national affairs. It is time to take a stand,” Umahi said.

On the economy, the minister acknowledged that the macroeconomy was only beginning to recover but urged Nigerians to consider the condition of the economy before the present administration took office and assess the reforms objectively.

“You may say that the macroeconomy is just beginning to recover. What was it like before the President took over? Everybody agrees that the macroeconomy is being fixed. It is up to you to dissect the ongoing reforms and take a position.”

Umahi also pointed to developments in the education sector, saying the stability being witnessed under the Tinubu administration had created an environment in which students were able to continue their studies without the disruption of nationwide strikes.

“For the first time, students never went on strike. Never. Look at the stability of Nigeria. That has never happened throughout the history of this country.”

“Where is the subsidy money?” Umahi explains

Addressing questions surrounding the removal of fuel subsidy and where the resulting resources were being deployed, Umahi pointed to the scale of ongoing infrastructure projects across the country.

He cited the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, which he said covers 375 kilometres and, when measured as a dual carriageway, amounts to 750 kilometres.

According to the minister, more than ₦200 billion has already been spent on the project, with 480 kilometres of the dual carriageway completed and further sections nearing completion.

“For the first time, we have been able to complete 118 kilometres of concrete pavement within 30 months. That has never happened,” he said.

The Minister said the remaining works were expected to be completed by November, noting that the two projects on the route have a combined cost of ₦752 billion, with more than 80 percent already paid.

He also highlighted the Sokoto-Zamfara-Zaria corridor, the Benue-Ninth Mile road, and the Bodo - Bonny Island road as examples of projects receiving significant attention under the Tinubu administration.

On the Bonny Island project, he said:

“For the first time, people will move from the island to the mainland in Bonny Island, where the LNG is produced. A project costing ₦280 billion under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been completed. The 39.7-kilometre road is fully done, and the people of Bonny are very happy. They are no longer dying at sea. They are now driving through the land.”

The minister also spoke extensively about the administration’s legacy road projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the expanded Northeast Fourth Legacy Project.

He disclosed that the Northeast project, originally running from Akwanga through Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and Biu, had been extended through Yobe to Maiduguri, adding another 400 kilometres to the project.

Umahi defended the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway against criticisms, saying the project was strategically important to the Niger Delta and would be completed.

“I do not know why people are attacking the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. After all, this is coming from the Niger Delta, where the oil is coming from. Why is nobody attacking the other three Legacy Projects, but this one is being attacked? That is unfair and unrealistic. That project will be completed. In fact, over 50 percent of the entire stretch is already under construction.”

The minister also used the occasion to speak about the development of the Southeast, saying President Tinubu had deliberately embarked on projects aimed at integrating the region into the national infrastructure network.

“The Southeast, for the first time, is being remembered, and I thank the people in the Southeast because sometimes I say, ‘Listen, our people should not be sentimental.’”

He said the administration’s approach to the region was intentional and urged the people of the Southeast to work with other parts of the country.

“The President has a good intention to integrate the people of the Southeast, and I have to be very honest with you. If I were not a minister from the Southeast, we would not have been able to get the projects we have secured. It is intentional on the part of Mr. President. Go and right the wrongs of the Southeast.”

Umahi cited the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway among the major projects transforming connectivity in the region.

He also disclosed that President Tinubu had approved the re-scoping and reconstruction of the Lokoja-Benin-Warri corridor, covering a total of 401 kilometres.

The minister was particularly direct in urging the students to support President Tinubu in the 2027 election, arguing that Nigerians should support the administration if they believe its policies are producing results.

“I want you to take a side. If you say you are on the list of a coalition and you say that what we are doing is good, then we have to take a stand to vote for the President in the coming election.”
“Let him finish. Let him take back our country. Let him reposition our country.”

Umahi also urged Nigerians to look beyond political rhetoric and focus on practical solutions to the country’s challenges.

“Listening to others should not mean allowing yourselves to be insulted or blackmailed. Cheap talk will not solve our problems. Nobody is saying what he or she can do differently. The worst is over. The darkest part of the night is an hour before dawn.”

He pointed to the decline in food prices as one of the developments Nigerians should consider in assessing the economy, recalling that a 50-kilogramme bag of rice, which he said had risen above ₦80,000 and at some point reached ₦100,000, was now selling at about ₦58,000.

Umahi also stressed the administration’s commitment to transparency in the execution of road projects, saying the Ministry of Works had opened its projects to scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies.

“Now, why are we doing this? Transparency. We have turned these projects over to the ICPC. They have gone round. We are ready for constructive criticism, and where necessary, we will make amends.”

He added that the Ministry had also written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to inspect its projects. “We have nothing to hide in this administration.”

The minister urged NANS to organise a major student engagement across the geopolitical zones where students could ask questions directly and hear the government’s explanations on its policies and projects.

“Let me defend this administration. Organise it and let me come. Move students from across the zone to a central point where we can talk to them and address their concerns. We have to deliberate on the issues. We have to debate them. Ask your questions, and we will answer them.”

He said he would attend such engagements with some ministers and Senior Special Assistants to the President, stressing that students were important stakeholders in the country’s future.

Umahi further challenged young Nigerians to take responsibility for protecting public infrastructure and contributing positively to national development. “See something, say something. Together, we can take back our country because it belongs to us.”

He said the responsibility for the performance of government should be placed on the officials directly responsible for specific sectors, rather than on the President for every operational issue.

“I am here because the President gave me the responsibility to be in charge of roads and bridges. If I do not do it, I should be the one to be blamed, not the President. I am not the President. The President has divided himself into a number of his appointees. These appointees should be the ones to answer and take responsibility.”

The minister concluded by thanking the students for the recognition and expressing his readiness to deepen collaboration with NANS.

“I want to thank you very much.“

He described the students as important partners in the national development process and encouraged them to remain informed, ask questions and hold leaders accountable.

The NANS President, in his address, said the association considered Umahi worthy of its patronage because of his record of public service, infrastructure delivery and commitment to national development.

He said the roads being constructed under Umahi’s leadership would outlive the present administration and continue to serve generations of Nigerians.

“History will not remember public officers merely because they occupied important offices. History will remember them for what they built, what they changed and the lives they touched.”

Afeez formally welcomed Umahi into the NANS family as Patron, describing the partnership between the student body and the Federal Ministry of Works as an opportunity to bring government projects closer to young Nigerians and deepen informed national discourse.

Aug

2025

IMMEDIATE WORKS ON EMERGENCY PROJECTS UNDERWAY AS PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS ACTION ON REHABILITATION OF HIGHWAYS/BRIDGES ON THE VERGE OF IMMINENT DETERIORATION. - 3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE CLOSED AGAINST HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES FOR STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE. In the efforts of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to expand and modernize road infrastructure to enhance sustainable economic growth, action is being taken to ensure immediate intervention on some of the inherited ongoing highways and bridge projects across the 6 Geo-Political Zones that are on the verge of imminent deterioration. The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON made this disclosure during a press briefing held at the Honourable Minister’s conference hall, Mabushi - Abuja, on 6th August 2025. Flanked by the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunsho Olusesan Adebiyi, the Honourable Minister gave a detailed insight into the conditions of the road and bridge projects being handled on emergency basis, noting that the President had directed immediate action to address critical sections of the Highways and Bridge projects that require emergency intervention and this neccessited the decision of the Federal Ministry of Works to articulate the conditions of such bridges and roads that are in dire need of repairs, some of which are currently being procured while work is in progress in some others. In the South West, he listed 3rd Mainland bridge, Carter bridge, Iddo bridge, Lagos-Ibadan bridges, Lagos – Badagry road, Ibadan – Ilesa, Ilesa – Akure-Benin, Ibadan – Oyo, Oyo – Ogbomoso –Ilorin roads as projects that needed emergency intervention. He said, “Among other emergency jobs that you’ve been seeing in Lagos, we are having a very deep conversation on the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge. And it's a very deep and concerned conversation. And we have tabled it to the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman in Council, Mr. President, directed that the Ministry should articulate the exact situation and bring it to the Federal Executive Council for deliberation. So we won't be able to say much on that until we have done that exercise as directed by the Federal Executive Council, and we'll let you know. But be assured that the Third Mainland Bridge is safe for light vehicles, but not for heavy vehicles. We have closed it against heavy vehicles, and the Carter Bridge also has issues that Mr. President is going to address as soon as our memo is completed. We also have a problem with the heavy trucks that are loading beyond our headrooms in our flyovers. We have a couple of them between Lagos and Ibadan Bridges completed in the last administration. Some of them have been knocked down. The beams are knocked down, and the beams are the structural elements that carry the slab that are carrying the vehicular loads. And so where the beam is not there, it means that it's not safe. So, for some of such bridges, we have closed down against vehicular movements. And we are very concerned. The Iddo Odo bridge was burned down during the past administration. So we are on it. It’s an ongoing project through Julius Berger.” In the North East, he said, “We have a couple of projects that have been sent to us by the NSA today. In Bauchi, we have repair works between chainage 25 and chainage 26. That's Azare. That is procured. We have about four washouts in that Azare. That is on the long stretch of Kano to Maiduguri, which has five sections. Section one is terminated from Dantata and Sawoe, 100.9 kilometres. And so it's been re-awarded to the Triacta. Funding will be a challenge, but work is ongoing. We have section five, which is at Maiduguri, handled by CCECC. Work is ongoing. We have been assisting them with SUKUK. And I'm sure that we're going to find a new source of funds. But the first section that has been washed out between Bauchi and Jigawa has already been procured. We called the Triacta, which is very close there. He's going to put multiple culverts and raise the road above the flood level, a minimum of one metre above the carriageway, and put some retaining walls so that we'll be safe there. Unfortunately, the rain has come, but I commend the President who has released some funds to tackle this. That's about four locations. In Gombe, we have Triacta that is working and has been there. And we also encouraged Triacta with some SUKUK funding and some budgetary provisions. And we're doing quite a lot of work between Gombe and Bauchi roads. So, work is ongoing. And we've almost finalised the fourth legacy project of Mr. President, which is 439 kilometres by six lanes. It was done before, designed on asphalt. But now the President directed that for durability and conformity with other legacy projects, we should do it on concrete. That project is taking off from Akwanga to Jos to Gombe. We're also doing the road from Gombe to Bauchi.” In the North West, he said that actions were being taken to ensure that an intervention be made to the Kebbe bridge in Sokoto State and other major projects that needed emergency intervention including the NNPC projects within the zone. “In North West, we have the Kebbe Bridge in Sokoto State. So we've also directed that work should commence. So what we have told you are the emergency projects that you may be coming across in social media, and to clarify that Mr. President has directed immediate action in all the locations because the chain is as strong as the weakest link. If any section of this road or bridges gets cut, then the movement is impaired. So you won't be able to move from one point to the other.” In North Central, he said, “We have the Keffi Bridge, the flyover that was knocked, and three people were killed by overboarding vehicle. We have settled with the families of the persons that were killed and that’s through the man that did the killings. We have visited there, and we've seen what the problem is to rectify it. Work is already ongoing. We procured CGC under emergency condition, since they are working at FCT so that they can start. It will involve the replacement of the beam that is knocked down. It will involve the chiseling out of the shoulder and part of the carriageway. It will involve replacement, and then to do integrity tests on the remaining beams that were damaged, and then the bridge will be restored. On Katsina-Ala road, we just got approval from Mr. President yesterday to re-scope the project, review the project, and have it completely executed. I was a very happy person because that's been giving us a lot of concern. And we'll try with the little resources to do palliative on that project.” In the South East, he stated, “The most important route in South East is the Enugu - Onitsha road, and that was awarded by the past administration, 108 kilometres by 2, and it was awarded for N202 billion to MTN under Tax Credit. But at the time we came on board, they had exhausted only N50 billion, and so we had to descope the project. And so we took out 72 kilometres of the project and awarded it to SKCC for N150 billion. Work is ongoing there. And so what we have done is to direct on emergency basis for SKCC and MTN to move immediately to the sections of the roads that are very bad, and within the scope of their work, do palliative, so that no section of that road will be unmotorable from Enugu down to Onitsha.” He urged the people of South East to double their support for the re-election of President Tinubu, noting that he has demonstrated enough goodwill to Ndigbo through many infrastructural investments of Federal Government in South East. In South South, he noted a number of roads that would be done through PPP and those for emergency intervention, including Benin – Asaba road. He said, “We have the 1st Niger Bridge to the summit junction. That is about 11.5 kilometres by two. We have China Harbour and the Atland on that project, 225 kilometres from Benin to Asaba, but not connecting the summit junction to the bridge. And so on that PPP, we gave it to African Plus, and so they're doing it on PPP. They have started work, but the other section, 11.5 by two, China Harbour, felt that it's small for them, so we have, on that emergency, given it to Atland. And the President has also released some money to start the project.” He noted that under the NNPCL projects, the North has 53% of that project, and the south has 47% of that project and which was not fairly distributed, because a place like South East has only 4%, and South West only 5%. But that notwithstanding, Mr. President decided to continue with the entire project. He described the trending video decrying the collapse of shoulders of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway as an orchestration of uninformed critics who darken counsel without knowledge. He placed on record that the section being referred to is still work in progress noting that the crack was not a structural failure but a normal occurrence that happened on a sand- filled section of the shoulder (not the carriageway) because of rains. He said. “Absolutely, it's not an issue at all. That section has not been completed. Section 1 is 47.47 kilometres by 6 lanes. And so you have the main carriageway, you have the shoulder. And so where you notice the crack is the sand-filled section of the shoulder, not carriageway, with stone base, where we are not presently working on. Because to work on the shoulder, we have to bury the cable ducts. We also have to put underground drainage. People even say there is no drainage there. That thing is not a structural failure at all. Whether it is a stone base you are using, or sand, or laterite, it is bound to happen. The moment water is pounding on it, it has to erode. But you can go from Ahmadu Bello, where we have completed, and you find out whether you find such a thing, because we have closed every aspect of the sand-filled or stone base filled areas.” In their separate remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Works and the Permanent Secretary charged the journalists to continue to uphold the tenets of journalism in their reportage, which are accuracy, objectivity and patriotism, noting that the Renewed Hope administration has made profound marks in its agenda of returning the country to the part of sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works ...

Aug

2025

*PRESIDENT TINUBU TREATING THE SOUTH EAST REGION WITH FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN ROAD AND BRIDGE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT* My attention as the Honourable Minister of Works has been drawn to a wrong and misleading statement on social media by one Mr Linus Anagboso (D-Big Pen) captioned: *“The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South-East missing from the map?”* I understand that politics is now in the air, and some people's chosen path is to deceive gullible members of the public, look good before their people as one fighting for them, and close both eyes, pretentiously, over the great and selfless infrastructure development Mr. President is doing all over the nation. I have directed all Ministry of Works’ Zonal Directors back to sites in all the six (6) geopolitical zones across the country to compile all inherited but ongoing projects and all new ones, so that Nigerians will appreciate the tremendous works that Mr. President is doing in all the regions, irrespective of those that voted for him and those that did not. Mr President is using fair distribution of infrastructure to reunite Nigerians and renew their hope and only those who open their eyes will see the light of change in Nigeria. In addressing specifically this misleading information and for the record, Mr. President has four (4) Legacy Projects, and they cover the six geopolitical zones with the South East zone well captured within the Third Legacy project spanning Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-FCT, totalling 465km x 2 with South East covering 231.64km x 2 and 231.64km x 1 for ₦445.8 billion, already awarded and work going on. Mr President has already paid ₦108 billion. What happened in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 31st July 2025 was a review of that corridor from 118kmx 1 to 231.64km x 1 for ₦445.8 billion. This misleading writer chose to change the narrative of my Press Briefing, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on the Trans Sahara Section 1 (Ebonyi State to Benue State border) – 123.64km at ₦445.8 billion, and, deliberately, chose to call it OYO-BENUE BORDER ROAD to deceive and incite Nigerians. I demand that he correct the information, immediately, even if he fails to apologise. Where was the writer when President Tinubu, GCFR decided to treat the South East fairly in road infrastructure like other zones? Under his administration, 90% of abandoned projects, some awarded as far back as 2013 were all revived and all are now ongoing. Where is the appreciation for huge ongoing works on the 2nd Niger Bridge Access Roads, 2A, in Delta State, which is valued at ₦146 Billion and 2B, in Anambra State, which is valued at ₦176 Billion, the Enugu-Onitsha Road -208km ( MTN Tax Credit, which is valued at ₦ 202 Billion, and CBC (Nig.) Limited completing the remaining section at ₦150 Billion of which ₦45Billion was released last week), Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway in four (4) sections, Enugu-Abakaliki, Afikpo-Abia-Imo, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, Umuahia to Ikot Ekpene roads etc. I request the South East people to rise in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR because he has demonstrated love and fairness to the people of the zone. We must not be deceived again. Mr. President must have the votes of the South East up to 90% to cement this relationship. Enough of darkening council without knowledge in the South East. We must rise to educate our people. If we want to be President, we must avoid the politics of hate, misinformation, and sentiments. We must support other zones and with God, one day others will support us. Mr President must be supported to complete his tenure of 8 years, which all regions are benefiting from. One day we will be number one but not in 2027. I will vocally continue to stand against any mischief to deceive our people. We are known for hard work and love not hate. I commend our Leaders, the South Eastern Governors, for their support and the great works they are doing for our people. I urge our people to please support them, along with our dear President, for a second tenure in their respective offices. NEVER AGAIN SHALL WE BE DECEIVED! Signed: *SENATOR (ENGINEER) DAVID NWEZE UMAHI, CON, FNSE, FNATE,* *HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WORKS.* ...

Aug

2025

FG INTERVENES IN NNPCL-FUNDED PROJECTS, REASSURES OF CONTINUITY AND PAYMENT *— No Project Stalled, No Payment Lost* The President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, through the Federal Ministry of Works, has swiftly intervened in the ongoing concerns surrounding the potential discontinuation of funding for road infrastructure projects under the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) Tax Credit Scheme. Speaking during a high-level engagement held on 31 July 2025 at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja with the affected contractors, the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE relayed Mr. President’s message, reaffirming the administration’s unwavering commitment to infrastructure development. He assured stakeholders of continuous funding and guaranteed that no project would be abandoned. Addressing the issue of unpaid certificates under the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme, the Minister moved to dispel fears within the contractor community. He clarified that the majority of projects under NNPCL’s funding will remain unaffected. Furthermore, he assured the contractors, particularly those working on concession-bound roads, that before such projects are handed over to prospective concessionaires, who have proof of funds and capacity to perform, all debts and outstanding entitlements to such contractors will be fully paid for. Engr. Umahi directed that all contractors and field officers return to the sites and resume work immediately. He emphasised that updated project documentation, including revised scopes for critical corridors like the Lokoja–Benin Dual Carriageway and all other projects must be submitted within seven days. He warned that inaccurate data submissions could result in project misinformation and delays in execution. On the issue of unpaid certificates, the Honourable Minister stressed the need for accurate reconciliation of certified amounts with payments received, including VAT, other taxes, and 5% retention fee, which remain a part of the contractors’ entitlements. He revealed that the Ministry is actively engaging with NNPCL to clear all outstanding verified certificates earned before 1st August 2025. Engineer Umahi informed all contractors of NNPCL projects that Mr. President has approved that funding of such projects from 1st August 2025 will continue on a new sustainable funding mechanism, and that all such projects must continue. To ensure proper oversight and accountability, Engr. Umahi constituted a committee with representation from the Directors of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation (C&R), Highways, Bridges and Design, Press and Public Relations, and Public Procurement to collate and verify all necessary information within the stipulated deadline. He further announced that Zonal Directors, Federal Controllers of Works, and Contractors will be deployed across the six (6) geopolitical zones for physical inspections of ongoing projects and commissioning of completed palliative projects with the full participation of members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). Reiterating the Ministry's zero-tolerance stance on financial misconduct, the Honourable Minister ordered that all projects exceeding ₦10 billion be reported separately from those below to enhance transparency. Any unresolved payment issue or financial discrepancy after the seven-day deadline will be escalated Concluding the meeting, Engr. Umahi called on all stakeholders to treat their respective assignments as a golden opportunity to anchor Nigeria’s infrastructure revolution under the Renewed Hope Administration. “We are building with integrity, accountability, and in the best interest of the Nigerian people,” he affirmed. He declared, “Let the public, press, and the National Assembly inspect our work, and let us publicly hear from them. ...

LIVE ACTIVITY FEED

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Nov

2025

OTHER NEWS

Feb

2022

FG Completes, Hands Over 1km Road to Fedpoly Kazaure

The fast moving train in the Season of Completion and Impact involving the commissioning of projects under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing moved to Jigawa State, North Western Nigeria, Thursday, February 24th, 2022.

Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure in Jigawa State was the beneficiary this time around. And the project commissioned and handed over consisted of four link roads totalling one kilometer length rehabilitated with asphalt overlay in the institution by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

The four link roads were: Road A linking four classrooms and three lecture halls; Road B linking the three halls with the 500-seater lecture theatre; Road C linking the 500-seater theatre with students’ hostel; while Road D connect the students hostel and the accommodation tower.

In his address, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Jigawa State, Engr. Atewolara Oladele Gabriel said that the Ministry was working on 76 road projects in selected Federal Tertiary Institutions across the nation.

"We have successfully intervened in the internal road networks of 46 Tertiary Institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021 and we now have another 17 ready to be handed over while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76", he said.

The Minister explained that the quality of infrastructure in the tertiary institutions would improve the learning environment, and impact positively on the quality of education, pointing out that the feedbacks from the students of the schools where this type of intervention had taken place testified to it.

"The summary of all the feedbacks from students and Management staff of the institutions has demonstrated that the gap of the nation's infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs and construction on the major highways and schools," he said.

Accordingly, the Minister stated that the construction of the internal roads in the tertiary institutions by Federal Government was a pointer to the progressive ideals of the Buhari administration in improving the human condition by supporting education.

In his response, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Sabo Wada Dutse, expressed happiness and excitement at the intervention, which he described as significant to the development of the Polytechnic.

The Rector stated that, with the road intervention, the Polytechnic community was now living at peace with no fears of reptiles which the area was prone to before the intervention.
He, however, solicited further intervention by the Federal government in areas like street and security lights and construction of sports complex in the Polytechnic whenever the opportunity arises.

Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Federal Polytechnic Kazaure Chapter, Dr. Abdul'azeez Ibrahim Badaru, expressed appreciation to the Minister for including the Polytechnic in the Tertiary Schools Road Intervention Scheme.

He said ", this will ease the stress of both staff and students. The access roads will enhance the environment and improve teaching and learning”. He also thanked the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Babangida Hussain, for what he has done for the Fedpoly Kazaure
" I want to appeal to the Honourable Minister to please include Federal Polytechnic Kazaure in the Housing scheme of the Ministry as the houses in the school are very few and very old, built by the Jigawa State Government before the conversion of the Polytechnic to a federal institution”, Dr Badaru added

Accordingly, he said the gesture would alleviate the suffering of the staff, who mostly come from Kano and other distant places, adding that it would also boost morale and performance, suggesting that the Ministry should construct at least 100 units of houses.

The President of the Students Union Government, Fedpoly Kazaure, comrade Adamu Sani Yarima, expressed profound gratitude to the Federal government and the Ministry of Works and Housing under the watch of Mr. Babatunde Fashola for supporting the Institution with the roads.
Comrade Yarima, also requested for more interventions especially in recreational facilities such as sports complex in the polytechnic.

SPEECHES

Sep

2021

BEING THE TEXT OF H.E BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, SAN AT THE 27TH MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON WORKS AND HOUSING HELD AT THE COMMAND GUEST HOUSE, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE ON THURSDAY, 23RD SEPTEMBER, 2021

It is a very exciting homecoming for me to return to Bauchi State, named after the ancient and historic Emirate of Bauchi, the home of the Yankari Game Reserve, a great gift of nature to Nigeria.

But Bauchi is not just home to Yankari, it is home to some very great and inimitable patriots who have served our country.

Perhaps Bauchi’s most famous son is Abubakar Tafewa Balewa, but Bauchi also gave Nigeria the Katagums, the Giades, the Toros, the Ahmeds, the Yugudas and so many other illustrious sons and daughters who have dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.

Of course we could not have this event here today without the support and commitment of another Bauchi son, who has followed the path of his illustrious predecessors in public service.

I speak of none other than our chief host HE Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, former Minister of the Federal Capital and now Governor of Bauchi State.

Your Excellency, I bring to you and the people of Bauchi the goodwill of the Federal Government and the best wishes of President Muhammadu Buhari and thank you for accepting to host this National Council.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the theme chosen for this year‘s council is “Infrastructure delivery, The Maintenance Economy and National Prosperity” and I hope it would help all of us focus on, not just the importance of the investment in infrastructure, but more importantly on the maintenance of infrastructure, the economy around maintenance and sustainable and long lasting jobs that are created through maintenance.

Since the implementation of the Marshall plan in 1948, after the Second World War, it has become clear to any serious minded economist or politician that infrastructure provision is critical to development, growth, wealth creation, employment and prosperity.

I have said and I will repeat it here, that infrastructure investment is the most legitimate way to distribute wealth in any economy.

This is why it is not surprising that during campaigns for elections and after elections, you will find discussions not only centering around roads, bridges, rails, schools, hospitals, water supply and power supply to be provided, you will also find that in the inauguration speech of every President, Prime Minister, Governor and other elected public officers, time is dedicated to addressing the provision of infrastructure.

I am sure our host will recall that he made similar commitments in his inauguration speech on May 29, 2019:

“…at the core of this mandate is the crucial drive to give Bauchi State citizens a better prospect and greater opportunity for a prosperous life. Reducing poverty and empowering our citizens in the areas of Agriculture, Education, urban and rural infrastructure among others.”

The reason for this is not far-fetched. The nations that are richer than us have more infrastructure than us and in order to bridge this gap we have to invest; because no nation or community can grow bigger than the stock of infrastructure.

Infrastructure also helps to make people efficient, it creates competition and leads to productivity. Currently the Federal Government is executing 895 contracts in 795 projects spanning over 13,000 km of roads and bridges nationwide.

Across all of these, engineers, geologists, surveyors, lawyers, bankers, suppliers, artisans and laborers are involved in an ecosystem of enterprise from which they earn a daily, weekly or other periodic income.

But that is only part of the story, the employment. The other parts include improved asset value, because everywhere a new road or bridge is built, the land value appreciates by up to 30% creating enormous capital gain.

On the completed sections of the roads, journeys that used to take days now take only a few hours, journeys that took hours are now reduced to minutes; and if it is true that time is money, clearly reduced journey times currently being delivered across Nigerian roads is money either through savings on journeys and fuel cost, or utilization of time saved for other productive activities, not to mention the Health benefits attributable to shorter travel time and reduced stress.

So when President Buhari committed on June 12, 2019 to taking 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years, his vision was not a Federal Government vision but a national one, which has started with the work being undertaken in all states and FCT and to which the Federal Government is contributing through infrastructure.

In the pursuit of this National vision, I urge all of us to embrace the more wholistic view and definition of poverty as not only the number of jobs, or amount of cash, but also well-being, efficiency and the lack of access.

For example if a one-hour journey takes six hours even in the best car, or land value is stagnant because it lacks an access road, the reversal of these situations by improved journey time or provision of access roads are steps towards prosperity.

Similarly, all those employed in the process of building the roads, surveyors, contractors, engineers, bankers, artisans, suppliers and lawyers have certainly been impacted on the income side.

Regrettably we cannot build forever and so when the infrastructure project is completed, most of those employed in the building must leave the site to look for new opportunities.

This is the heart of the matter and this is the message that the theme of this council seeks to focus on. What should we do in addition to building infrastructure, in order to keep the jobs on.

The answer, Ladies and Gentlemen is simple. We must maintain the infrastructure we built.

This is important for many reasons, the first of which is that we preserve the life of the infrastructure and get the best value for the money we spent on it.

The second reason is that a maintenance economy is a critical contributor and driver of GDP in many economies around the world.

You will notice that I have spoken about a “maintenance economy” not a “maintenance culture.” This is because maintenance is not a cultural thing, it is an existential matter of survival, bread and butter and income.

Available data shows that in the “built industry” only about 30% of the manpower is employable by design and construction which lasts until the project is completed; while the remaining 70% are employed in the process of “operation” and “maintenance” of the infrastructure.

These are the reasons why the development of a maintenance economy must commend itself to all of us here and why we must all return home not only to think about it, but to do something about it.

The question is what needs to be done? My answer is that we must develop policies to stimulate the economy of maintenance.

All that we need to do is take a look at the state of existing infrastructure, and we are likely to see bridges with damaged expansion joints and bearings, buildings with broken windows and leaking pipes, doors that do not lock properly, toilets that do not work well and so much more.

If we reflect on what we see, we will realize that these are jobs for plumbers, carpenters, printers, foundry workers and many more skilled and unskilled people in our country and it is our responsibility to connect these people to the opportunities that infrastructure in disrepair represents for sustainable employment.

The Federal Government has already initiated such a policy in 2019, and we are now at implementation stage.

This has seen the Head of the Federal Civil Service approve the creation of the Department for Federal Public Asset Maintenance.

The next step is for each Ministry Department and Agency (MDA) of government to set up their own units for maintenance, undertake a condition assessment of their infrastructure, develop a maintenance plan, and implement the procurement for annual periodic and scheduled maintenance.

You might want to ask what this will do? My answer is that it will immediately begin to create jobs.

From the first stage of condition assessment, people are employed to inspect, assess, measure, document, photograph and do many things in the process of ascertaining what the infrastructure needs.

In 9 (nine) facilities that we assessed the conditions of fittings such as fans, air conditioners, light fittings, toilets and wash hand basin, we found that out of 41,800 installations 12,459 representing 29.8% were not functioning. These are people’s jobs to repair, supply, replace and install as the case may be.

The development of the maintenance plan and the procurement plan leading to invitation to tender and award of maintenance contracts for rehabilitation and facility management is a sure pathway to job creation.

Currently we are undertaking maintenance works on 41 (Forty-One) bridges that has employed 1,157 people directly and created 3,309 indirect jobs and we have facility management contracts for 25 federal secretariats across Nigeria after we completed renovation works. Each facility manager employs at least 40 people.

This is only a tip of the iceberg because the supply side that supports maintenance involves the purchase and supply of paint, bleach, rakes, brooms and other tools which create employment for small and medium size enterprises which is another activity of economic empowerment.

When we started the office of Facility Management in Lagos State, I recall one day when we awarded contracts for the facility management of 600 schools. This was employment not only for 600 small contractors but also for the people that were employed to do the job.

Ladies and Gentlemen, when we see functional and efficient public assets in other parts of the world there is no secret to it. It is evidence of a maintenance economy led by government.

Our federal maintenance initiative has assessed schools, courts, hospitals, correctional facilities and police buildings and is getting ready to commence work on them. I commend the same to you in your states if you want to create sustainable jobs.

Thank you for listening.

Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN
Honourable Minister of Works and Housing