Federal Ministry of Works

Jun

2026

LATEST PRESS

CEMENT MANUFACTURERS MUST REDUCE PRICES, TINUBU IS RETAKING NIGERIA — UMAHI

The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has called on cement manufacturers across the country to immediately reduce the price of cement, insisting that the current cost of the product is placing pressure on ongoing infrastructure projects and increasing demands for contract variations.

Umahi made the call while delivering keynote address at the official unveiling of the new corporate identity of Lafarge, now rebranded as HBM, a member of the HUAXIN Group, held at the Lagos Continental Hotel on June 21, 2026.

Speaking before industry leaders, investors, and stakeholders, the Minister emphasized that the Federal Government would engage cement manufacturers from July 1 to address the issue of cement prices. “I want to insist that Lafarge now HBM and other manufacturers of cement should reduce their prices,” Umahi declared.

“We shall be engaging on this from First of July. Manufacturer of Cement must reduce their prices because the contractors are chocking me to review their contracts. But nobody is reviewing anybody’s contract. It’s the manufacturers of cement that should review their cost.”

The Minister noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is investing heavily in critical infrastructure across the country, creating unprecedented opportunities for manufacturers and investors. He urged HBM and other industry players to expand their capacity to meet the growing demands of the nation’s infrastructure revolution.

Commending the company on its transition and renewed commitment to the Nigerian market, Umahi assured the management of government support and partnership. “I commend you very highly and I say welcome onboard and we are going to work together. The market is smaller than what the president is doing. So, enlarge your coast,” he said.

The Minister used the occasion to highlight the remarkable progress being recorded under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the area of infrastructure development. He pointed to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as one of the evidences of the administration’s bold vision and commitment to national transformation.

According to him, the quality and scale of the project have continued to attract global attention and admiration. “When the Dudge Bank came to evaluate our project, they said it was undervalued and that the project is of topmost quality. Today, Our neighboring nations are coming to steal the technology of the coastal highway.”

Umahi expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for providing the leadership and political will driving the country’s infrastructure renaissance, assuring Nigerians that the administration remains firmly on course to restore national prosperity. “I want to use this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and I commit that Mr. President is committed to retake this country. The President knows what he is doing. The vision and mission are achievable and we are on course and this country will be taken back for the good of Nigerians.”

May

2023

For The Records - Re: Allegation on “N130BN 2022 SUKUK Fund, Road Contractors Petition EFCC Over Non-Payment of Approved Funds Allocated to Them by Ministry of Works Staff” The attention of the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing has been drawn to the above allegation carried by Opera News an online publication which was sourced from The Street Journal of May, 16th 2023 wrongly accusing staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing of refusing to disburse funds allocated for projects in the 2022 Sukuk Fund to Contracts. The writer further states that the funds have been placed into accounts to generate interest “for the sole purpose of creaming off accrued interest…. 2. This is a blatant misrepresentation of facts and a calculated attempt to smear the name of the Ministry. It is pertinent to mention that the Ministry adopted the Sukuk model of project financing since 2017 and at no time has the funds for payment for any project been domiciled in the Ministry. SUKUK Funds are domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and are only released to the Ministry for payment after the necessary processes and approvals are obtained. According to the operational guidelines for Sukuk projects, payments are made to contractors within twenty-four hours of the funds hitting the accounts of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. It is therefore, unfounded to imagine that any portion of the 2022 SUKUK Fund is warehoused in any bank with the expectation of yielding interest for any pecuniary benefits to officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. 3. You may wish to note that the Debt Management Office (DMO) approved the 2022 Sovereign SUKUK Funding of N110.00 billion for execution of sixty-three (63No.) projects across the country. The symbolic presentation to the Ministry of the cheque of N110.00 billion was performed on 6th February, 2023 in the Main Auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja. 4. Prior to the presentation of the 2022 SUKUK cheque, the Ministry was executing the 2021 SUKUK Funding in the sum of N210.565 billion for the construction of seventy-one (71No.) projects in the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing and N10.435 billion for execution of five (5No.) highway projects by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs which were transferred to the Works and Housing Ministry. The disbursement for payment of executed works in the 2021 SUKUK Funding in the total sum of N220.00 billion was completed in April, 2023. It is important to note that the disbursement of the 2022 Sukuk could not be run concurrently with that of the 2021 Sukuk as a matter of principle. 5. Upon completion of the payments from the 2021 SUKUK Funding, the Ministry commenced the collation and submission of Milestones to be achieved by Contractors under the 2022 Funding. The provision of Milestones by the Contractors, evaluation and approval by the Ministry and final no objection by the DMO is a necessary condition for the disbursement of Sukuk Funds. These processes take time and must be completed before any disbursement can be carried out. 6. On completion of this process early May 2023 and in line with the commitment of the Ministry for payment of works executed according to the approved Milestones, the first (1st) Tranche Drawdown from the 2022 in the sum of N19.605 billion was forwarded to DMO. This will undergo a process of verification by consultants engaged by the Debt Management Office before payments can be approved and the CBN, through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, requested to release the funds for payment to the contractors. Subsequent Tranches would be forwarded to the DMO as the Contractors execute works in line with the approved Milestones and the works are verified, certified approved accordingly until the N130bn is fully accessed. 7. It is important to advise the general public to always cross-check their facts before going to the media in order to avoid unsubstantiated allegations and avoidable waste of tax-payers money for energies that should be channeled into more productive ventures. ENGR. FOLORUNSO ESAN DIRECTOR, OVERSEEING THE OFFICE OF THE PERMANENT SECRETARY. FMWH* ...

May

2023

President Buhari Commissions Seven Legacy Projects Under Works and Housing Sector. ...the Second Niger, Ikom and Loko-Oweto bridges; Kaduna-Kano Road section and Federal Secretariat Projects commissioned President Muhammadu Buhari has today virtually commissioned seven laudable legacy projects under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing across some states of the federation. These projects are: the Second Niger bridge linking Asaba and Onitsha in Delta and Anambra states, Ikom bridge in Cross River state and Loko-Oweto bridge linking Nasarawa and Benue states. Other projects include: Kaduna-Kano Road section dual carriageway and Federal Secretariat building complex in Anambra, Bayelsa and Zamfara states. Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has been the Minister superintending over the Works and Housing sector under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari since inception in 2015. The Presidential commissioning was conducted virtually and simultaneously across the seven project locations in the respective states. President Buhari described the projects as symbols of his administration's efforts and commitment to renew the Nigerian stock of Infrastructure, pointing out that it was a deliberate choice and not an accident. Which today has greatly enhanced the Nigerian GDP from 20% to 40% there by delivering on the prosperity of citizenry. The President further explained that government's debts were tied to Infrastructure, pointing out the assets and investments of the government is in place. Accordingly, President Buhari stated that the projects were an example of the change promise of his administration as well as a practical effort to confront the multi-dimensional poverty instead of lamentation. Earlier, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola stated that the projects these projects have massively impacted on Nigerians of various geo-political zones, saying that with these projects, President Buhari had met people at their door steps even when they never saw him in person. Accordingly, Fashola explained that the economic activities that took place during the construction work had resulted in pushing back the multi- dimensional poverty from the society. He listed the benefits to include; job creation for the people; reduced travel time with additional comfort during travels, business efficiency and value appreciation of properties. Fashola commended the cooperation and support of all the stakeholders, such as Ministers, State Governors, National Assembly Members, Contractors, Traditional and Community Leaders in the project locations for the success achieved in delivering the projects. Governors of Anambra and Imo states, Professor Charles Soludo and Hope Uzodinma respectively, the Governor of Delta State represented by the Chief of Staff, Rt Hon. Festus Ovie Agas as well as the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr (Sen.) Chris Ngige, who all delivered goodwill messages. They all expressed joy and commended President Buhari for delivering on the projects which they described as having huge economic impact on the Nation. The three Federal Secretariats were named after some dignitaries such as, Dr. Good luck Ebele Johnathan for Baylelsa, Ebele Okeke for Awka and Mallam Yahaya Gusau for Zamfara Federal Secretariat complex in Gusau. It was a very colourful and eventful legacy project commissioning ceremony across the Nation. ...

May

2023

FG Directs Immediate Closure as Theft of Reinforcements Lead to Failure of Section of Ijora Olopa Road The Federal Government on Wednesday directed the immediate closure of the Ijora-Olopa Bridge following the discovery that some miscreants have tampered with the major reinforcement elements of the deck from underneath which led to the failure of a section of the Bridge along Ijora Olopa Road, beside Water Corporation, Ijora. The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, in a Press Statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Hakeem Bello, identified the failed section as the Ijora-Olopa inward Ijora-Oloye–Apapa. According to the Statement, Roads leading directly to the Bridge such as Costain inward Eko Bridge and Carter Bridge descent inward Ijora Oloye have, as a result, been closed to traffic from last night. Working with the Lagos State Government and other traffic management authorities, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos has also issued the following Traffic Advisory to ensure that motorists and other members of the commuting public are able to use alternative routes. • From Eko Bridge motorists should take IGANMU/ SIFAX to Ijora Oloye or Apapa, • From Iddo to Ijora-Oloye/ Apapa; traffic will be diverted at the intersection underpass at Ijora Olopa on contraflow, and reconnected at the U-Turn to Ijora-Oloye or Apapa. It would be recalled that the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing has on several occasions asked illegal squatters occupying Lagos under-bridges to quit as fire incidents and other illegal activities underneath such bridges often result in extensive damage of the vital infrastructure constructed with the nation’s scarce resources. ...

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Nov

2025

OTHER NEWS

May

2018

Minister Summons Road Contractor Over Poor Performance

The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri has summoned the contractor handling rehabilitation work on Bauchi-Gombe road, Enerco Nigeria Ltd., over poor performance.

Shehuri gave the order on Thursday in Bauchi during an inspection of ongoing Federal Government projects in the North-East. He expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work on the project, adding that Nigerians were becoming impatient with unserious contractors. “We have visited other construction sites in the state before we arrived here, while I am satisfied with the level of work by other contractors, I am disappointed with the pace of work here.

“I have summoned the contractor to come over to Abuja to sort out issues because if they are not ready for business they should let us know. “Nigerians are becoming very impatient, they need this project because apart from the road, we are also interested in the employment content and other benefits that will come with it,” he said. Mr Charles Ezike, the Federal Controller of Works, Bauchi State, said that the 81.5 kilometres rehabilitation road project was awarded in 2017 with completion period of 24 months.

He said that the contractor was adequately mobilised and had achieved 1.88 per cent completion after 49.72 per cent time lapse. “This to us is a dismal performance because when the contractor primed the first stone base section, they were unable to cover it with asphalt. “This resulted to deterioration on the surface that we are witnessing and the reason is that the contractor’s asphalt plant is not in working condition.
“They have been battling to fix it and I have severally advised that if their own cannot function well that they should buy asphalt from other company,” he said. Mr Jamil Nasser, the Project Manager, Enerco Nigeria Ltd blamed the delay in the project on the bad state of the company’s asphalt plant.

He said efforts were being made by the management to change the plant and pledged that the new plant would be ready for work within days.
Source: (NAN)