Minister ofWorks Meets World Bank Delegation on Strengthening Nigeria’s Infrastructure. The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. (Engr.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, on Friday, January 23, 2026, received a high-level delegation from the World Bank in his office for a strategic meeting focused on improving Nigeria’s infrastructure, particularly the road sector. In his welcome remarks, the Honourable Minister expressed appreciation to the World Bank delegation for their interest in Nigerian infrastructure projects. He noted that infrastructure development remains the most critical requirement for Nigeria to attain its desired position in global economic competitiveness, emphasizing that efficient road networks are fundamental to national growth, trade, and social development. Sen. Umahi briefed the delegation on the Federal Government’s Development Management Initiative, as well as the “Build, Update and Maintain” strategy, under which the government is responsible for constructing roads while the private sector is engaged to maintain them. According to him, this model is designed to ensure sustainability, efficiency, and value for money in road infrastructure delivery. The Honorable Minister highlighted the challenges facing the road sector, noting that the cost of road construction and availability of funds became more difficult. He explained that experience has shown that roads constructed with asphalt often fail to last beyond ten years, which informed the Ministry’s decision to adopt reinforced concrete pavement as a more durable and long-lasting alternative. He identified key priority road projects currently being handled by the Ministry, including: The East–West Road, comprising over eight sections, The Enugu–Onitsha Road Project, The Kano–Jigawa–Maiduguri Road Corridor, and The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The Honourable Minister disclosed that when he assumed office, the Ministry inherited about 260 weak road links, 50 dilapidated bridges, and numerous failed road sections nationwide. To address these urgent challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved ₦20 billion for the completion of some priority road projects, many of which are currently being commissioned across the country, as observed by journalists. Sen. Umahi explained that, given current realities, long-term planning is less feasible, and the focus must be on short-term interventions aimed at completing major ongoing road projects. He stressed that funding remains a major constraint and reiterated that new projects cannot be initiated while existing ones remain incomplete. Consequently, the Honourable Minister formally requested the World Bank to consider financing road infrastructure projects through the Federal Ministry of Works via the Presidency. He explained that such funds would be committed to a number of strategic ongoing road projects for completion, with tolling mechanisms introduced to ensure sustainability and repayment. He emphasized that additional funding is urgently required to complete critical infrastructure projects across Nigeria. The World Bank delegation, led by Mr. Matthew Verghis, stated that the purpose of the visit was to discuss practical ways of improving Nigerian roads, which he described as the country’s most important infrastructure asset. Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Franz Drees-Gross, a member of the delegation, explained that the World Bank’s overarching objective is to create jobs and reduce poverty. He stressed that infrastructure is central to poverty reduction, as it generates employment directly and indirectly across various sectors of the economy. He highlighted priority areas of interest, including the establishment of State Roads Funds, State Road Maintenance Agencies, improved flood control through effective drainage systems, and increased Private Sctor financing. Mr. Verghis further noted that the World Bank can only fund contracts that comply with World Bank procurement standards, stressing the importance of transparency, accountability, and due process in project execution. The meeting ended on a positive note, with both parties expressing commitment to strengthening collaboration towards the development of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure in Nigeria. The Honourable Minister of State for Works, Barr. Bello Mohammed Goronyo, Esq., delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating the World Bank delegation for the visit and reaffirming the Ministry’s readiness to work closely with the Bank to achieve shared development goals. Clement Ezeora DD, Press and Public Relation. ...

SOKOTO-BADAGRY SUPERHIGHWAY: CCTV, STREET LIGHTING TO GUARANTEE SAFETY OF ROAD USERS, COMMUNITIES The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering safe, durable, and economically transformative road infrastructure with the ongoing construction of the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, a landmark project designed to enhance national integration, trade, and security. As part of measures to guarantee the safety of road users and communities along its corridors, the project incorporates modern infrastructure features, such as a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance system and street lighting. Providing background on the project on Wednesday, 21 January, 2026, the Federal Controller of Works in Sokoto State, Engr. Kasimu Maigwandu, explained that the Super Highway originates from Illela in Sokoto State, at the Nigeria–Niger Republic border, traversing Kebbi State in the North-West Zone, Niger and Kwara States in the North-Central, and terminates at Badagry in Lagos State, South-West, Nigeria. According to him, the project, which ranks among the most economically influential infrastructure investments in the country, aims at facilitating the efficient movement of people, goods, and services within Nigeria and across neighbouring countries such as Niger and the Benin Republic, while ensuring safer, faster, and joyful transportation. Engr. Maigwandu noted that the road cuts across numerous markets, cities, rural communities, and agricultural hubs - an intervention expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity, stimulate commerce, create employment opportunities, and strengthen national security and integration. He disclosed that construction activities are progressing steadily at several locations, including Katami, Silame, Gande, Bunkari, Gada, Madi, and Illela, adding that modern construction techniques such as Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology and integrated solar street lighting are being deployed to ensure durability and enhanced safety for road users. Speaking on the progress of work, the Project Manager, Messrs Hitech Construction Company Limited, Mr. Joharn Fohan Foucice, confirmed that construction is progressing smoothly without major challenges, assuring Nigerians of the contractor’s commitment to quality workmanship and timely delivery. During a Media Tour of the project site, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, reassured host communities of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration’s resolve to provide adequate security to enable uninterrupted and speedy completion of the project. “As you can see, there is a strong security presence around this project,” he emphasised. Hon. Yakasai expressed that the efforts and presence of security personnel have been critical to the smooth execution of the works, noting that contractors would not have been able to operate effectively without adequate security support. “We appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for ensuring that, despite the security challenges in the region, work has continued uninterrupted since its commencement,” he added. He further explained that the concrete-paved Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway will strengthen unity and connectivity between the North-West and other regions of the country, thereby accelerating socioeconomic growth. “This road will link Ilelah, Sokoto directly to Badagry in Lagos. There are dams along the corridor that will support all-year-round farming, boost agricultural activities, and improve economic prosperity, especially in the North-West Zone with vast arable land,” he stated. The SSA-P appreciated President  Tinubu, the Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, and the Minister of State, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq. for their extraordinary leadership and zeal in the provision of roads and bridges, noting that construction is ongoing seamlessly and simultaneously across six points on the alignment. Also present during the inspection were the Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Sokoto Branch, Engr. Abubakar Yahaya, and a Civil Society representative, Dr. Abdul Umar, who commended the contractor and the Ministry for strict adherence to quality standards. They highlighted the importance of the project’s engineering design, noting that the 20-centimetre concrete pavement thickness strictly conforms to specifications in the Bill of Quantities, ensuring durability, longevity, and value for money. In a related development, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, Comrade Muhammed Nasir Bello, on behalf of the Chairman, commissioned Emergency Repair works on the Sokoto–Tambuwal–Jega Road (Route A1), as well as Reinstatement of Washouts and Failed Sections at KM 33+050, KM 33+500, and KM 67+200 along the Sokoto–Jega–Kebbi State Border Road. The Federal Government has urged communities along the project’s corridor to continue cooperating with the Contractor to ensure the smooth execution and timely completion of this historic national investment.   ...

EMERGENCY ROAD INTERVENTION COMMISSIONED AS SSA-P LEADS STAKEHOLDERS ON NATIONAL MEDIA TOUR TO INSPECT KOGI PROJECTS As part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to deliver quality infrastructure across the nation, ensure the effective execution of Federal road projects, and improve safety on critical highways, the Federal Ministry of Works, on 12 January 2026, undertook an inspection of key road projects in Kogi State. The visit covered the ongoing reconstruction works on the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway, Section III (Abaji–Koton Karfe), and included the formal commissioning of the Itobe–Ayingba Road Emergency Intervention Project. The event, part of the Ministry’s National Media Tour across all geopolitical zones, brought together key stakeholders, including the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central Zone, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, members of the Press, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other stakeholders. It featured the inspection of ongoing Federal road projects and the commissioning of an emergency intervention project in the State, the first stop in the North Central zone. During the inspection, Dr. Essiet highlighted the strategic importance of the Abuja–Lokoja Highway as a key link between Northern and Southern Nigeria. She assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved sustained funding for critical road projects nationwide and urged contractors to accelerate work, while upholding high-quality standards. She commended host communities and security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), for their cooperation with traffic management and diversion measures. She also disclosed that security arrangements are being strengthened to enable nighttime construction, where required, to accelerate project delivery. Engr. Zira Adamu, Engineering Representative (ER) on the project, provided technical insights, explaining that the construction involves a composite pavement system comprising rigid (concrete) and flexible (asphaltic) pavements. He stated, “Eight kilometres of rigid (concrete) pavement have been completed, while 13.8 kilometres of asphalt binder course have been achieved. Overall project completion currently stands at 10.21 per cent, with approximately 66.67 per cent of the project timeline elapsed. The contract sum for the project is ₦89,888,414,585.20.” He added that the project was initially awarded on 24 March, 2022 with a completion period of three years, noting that progress has been largely affected by traffic management and security challenges along the corridor. The project is being executed by two contractors, with  Messrs  Geld Limited/Triacta (Nigeria) Limited handling one carriageway (Lokoja- Bound) and Trucrete Solutions Limited managing the Abuja-bound section. The Federal Controller of Works in Kogi State, Engr. Patiko Musa, assured the public that construction work is ongoing, adding that additional equipment and work gangs are being deployed to accelerate progress. Similarly, the Itobe–Ayingba Road Special Intervention Project, a 1.6-kilometre emergency repair completed at ₦972 million, was commissioned on behalf of the President by the SSA-P. The project is part of the 260 emergency interventions carried out nationwide to address critically failed sections of inherited projects by the present administration. With 2,064 road and bridge projects inherited, emergency repairs on the most hazardous sections remain a top priority. The Itobe–Ayingba Road is a vital federal highway linking the Eastern, Central, and Western parts of Kogi State and connecting with the Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe Road. It serves key industrial corridors, including the largest iron and steel plant and one of the largest cement factories in Africa, playing a critical role in commerce, transportation, and socio-economic development. The scope of work executed included site clearance and scarification, provision of lateritic sub-base and crushed stone base, asphaltic binder and wearing courses, cut-and-patch of potholes, desilting of drainage systems, and installation of road markings. The project received commendations from representatives of the Kogi State Government, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Lokoja Branch, and the host communities, who expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for addressing long-standing infrastructural challenges. Community leaders confirmed that the intervention has significantly reduced road accidents and improved safety and economic activities. At the Dualisation of Lokoja - Benin Road, Section I, Phases 1 & 2 (Lokoja - Okene), after receiving briefings by the Federal Controller of Works (FCW), Kogi State, Engr. Musa Patiko and the Project Manager, Messrs CCG (Nig.) Limited, the SSA-P expressed dismay at the slow pace of work, urging the Contractor to put in more effort, while assuring that funding constraints would be met. The host community complained about the menace of dust buildup occasioned by the construction work and the company was admonished to be health-conscious and environmentally friendly in their operations. As a proactive measure to surmount the security issues affecting the pace of work on some projects, the SSA-P met with the Commander, 12 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Lokoja, Brig. Gen. Kasim Umar Sidi, who promised to provide 24-hour security cover to any construction company, on demand. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Kogi State, Engr. Abdulsalam Sagir, while thanking the present administration for the various projects in the state, asked for more. The Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Lokoja Branch, Engr. Adanu Emmanuel and a representative of Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Conscience of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Lokoja, Mr. Idris Miliki Abdul urged the contractors to abide by the specifications and timelines of their respective contracts. Other projects inspected by the Team include the Rehabilitation of Abuja - Lokoja Expressway, Sections 4a and 4b, and the Special Repair of Lokoja - Ganaja Road. ...