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.”

Jan

2023

Federal Government Set to Resume Work on Major Highways … Barricades to be restored to ensure safety at construction sites Recall that barricades were removed at all construction sites on December 15,2022 for ease of movement to reduce travel time during the yuletide season. Contractors are now set to resume work on major highways especially the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (from OPIC to the old toll gate) and the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway (around Kawo on the Kaduna-Zaria Section). To this end the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has directed that construction barricades be returned at construction sites for safety purposes with effect from Tuesday, January 10,2023. The Second Niger Bridge will, however, remain closed for public use with effect from Sunday, January 15,2023 for continuation of work on the completion of the access roads to the bridge. The Honourable Minister seeks the patience and understanding of motorists and members of the public on this action aimed at completing the on-going projects. ...

Jan

2023

Fashola Lists Benefits of Loko-Oweto Bridge, Road Project …Says the project would be commissioned soon Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, said the Loko-Oweto bridge and the linking roads when fully completed would be of great benefits to the communities along the corridors of the project, motorists and commuters that use the route. Fashola listed many benefits of the project while on inspection. He disclosed that the bridge had been completed and what remained was the approach roads to the bridge. Fashola said, "This is about my fifth visit here since 2016 when we started out as Power Works and Housing Ministry. There was essentially nothing here. We now have a bridge over the River Benue, 70 Kilometers road linking Benue State to the bridge and we also have another 74 kilometers of road linking Nasarawa State into the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “This Bridge has been finished about two or a year and a half years ago but we are waiting to connect the link roads. The link roads are substantially finished now and I think I can comfortably go and report to Mr. President that this bridge is now ready to be formally commissioned and opened to traffic.” Speaking on the benefits of the project, he said that the Loko-Oweto bridge would provide a shorter route for commuters and motorists. He said that despite the fact that the project has not been officially opened for use, it has offered shorter routes for travelers and reduced travel hours to its barest minimum. “I remember it used to take about four and half hours from Mabushi in Abuja to get here. The main problem was the 74-kilometre road part of which we are standing on now. That road is essentially finished so it took about 30 minutes to get here from the approach road. The journey from Mabushi to here now is two and a half hours from four hours,” he said. Still speaking on the benefits, the Minister said the project has further demonstrated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to infrastructure growth and development of the nation saying, no nation can produce without infrastructure and that it was the legitimate means of distributing wealth of the nation. He said: “But it is important to inform Nigerians that those who speak about production, the economy, should come here and learn what infrastructure can do. You cannot produce without infrastructure. You cannot drive an economy without infrastructure. So, they should come here because this bridge is actually a test case that demonstrates the commitment of Mr. President to infrastructure as a way of boosting our economic growth.” Speaking on behalf of the Emir of Loko, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed, Sabo Mai- Loko and the entire community, the Area Council Chairman of Loko, Honourable Shaibu Umah expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari on the construction of the Loko- Oweto bridge which he said has impacted their lives positively. “We thank the Honourable Minister and Mr. President on the Loko- Oweto bridge and the adjoining roads which are near completion. When fully completed and commissioned would provide business opportunities to our community." ...

Jan

2023

Quality of Infrastructure, Impacts Quality of Education-Fashola UNEC – Deputy Vice Chancellor: We Are Grateful for The Intervention The commitment and actual execution of internal road network project, intervention in various federal Tertiary Institutions has greatly impacted on increased quality of education in Nigeria. These were the affirmation by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola – SAN, CON at Enugu. The Minister who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu State, Engr. Tony Animaku confirmed this during the commissioning and hand over of the 0.8-kilometer road rehabilitated by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on behalf of the Federal Government at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus (UNEC). Speaking further, the Minister said that the gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the schools. It is undebatable that the quality of education as attested to by students themselves has been greatly impacted on by the quality of these recent Federal Government infrastructure. These are some of the feedbacks from student in the schools such as this one in the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) where these varied types of intervention have taken place. The Minister Babtunde Raji Fashola also confirmed that the Ministry has successfully intervened in 64 Internal Road Projects in various Federal Tertiary Institutions and handed over a total of 46 as at March, 2022 and has another 18 ready to be handed over, while we are currently attending to 19 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 85. Among the several students interviewed, they all expressed renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes because of some of these defective roads, which have been restored to good condition, making them happier walking with ease to attend lectures across their different Faculties and Departments where these road network rehabilitations were carried out. President Muhammadu Buhari’s consistent progressive ideal of improving the human condition continues with the handover of this 0.8-kilometer road in the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus (UNEC) as a critical intervention to support education in Nigeria. Fashola also stressed that although this is a civil works project, yet it is both an investment in education and the Nigerian Economy. He said Infrastructure is the key needed for unlocking the Economy for speedy development, according to him the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has achieved advancement of the Nigerian economy through massive and visible Infrastructure development. For instance, the creation of employment and market for small and medium enterprises at construction sites ‘Infrastructure is the key that unleashes trade and productivity. And without infrastructure you can’t drive trade and commerce’ This is so because during the construction period over 100 people were employed in the process contributing to the creation initiatives of the Government. It is hoped that the school will ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused. Earlier, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Edith O. Nwosu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Work Services, UNEC, Engr. Udechukwu Humphrey Chukwuemeka, appreciates Federal Government efforts for considering the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus worthy of this lofty venture which the Federal Controller of Works in Enugu handled. The road network actually gave a face lift to the internal roads we have in the University, most importantly the Nnmadi Azikiwe drive transverse, through the major Faculties we have in UNEC, we have about five (5) Faculties – we have the Faculties of Law, Basic Medical Sciences, Business Administration, Health Sciences and Environmental Sciences (80%) Eighty percent of the students stream this road to attend their lectures. The University is deeply grateful to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works and Housing. Some student who spoke expressed satisfaction with the ease of walking conveniently through these road network within UNEC – Mr Amobi Ezekiel a Law student was all smiles of appreciation to the Federal Government and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Miss Chisom Elizabeth, also a Law student affirmed what her course mate had earlier said, it was a very colourful ceremony and the entire University Community, the shuttle bus drivers especially were all full of gratitude for the rehabilitation of these internal road network within UNEC. ...

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Nov

2025

OTHER NEWS

Apr

2017

FG Commends Progress Of Work On National Housing Project

Federal Government has commenced the construction of houses across the country under the National Housing Programme. The construction works in the Phase 1 of the project tagged “2016 National Housing Programme” are at various stages of completion in the six (6) states of the North Central Zone of the country.

The Minister of state works, Power and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Baba Shehu disclosed this on Sunday 09/04/2017 during the inspection of the project in Lokoja, Kogi State. Alhaji Baba, who was on inspection tour of the projects in the six states of the North Central came to Lokoja, from Ilorin, Kwara State where he had earlier carried out similar inspection of the project.

The Minister stated that the programme which is meant to provide houses for the people and ease their accommodation problem was a fulfillment of part of the electioneering promises to the people of Nigeria by the All Progressive Congress (APC).

According to him, the programme, apart from making houses readily available and affordable for any interested members of the public, would also help to create job opportunities as different categories of people are engaged to work at the construction site of the project to earn a living.

The Minister said the initiation of the programme by the present administration was a deliberate effort to create wealth for people adding that more Nigerians stand to benefit from the 2nd Phase of the programme in 2017.

While fielding questions from journalists, the Minister expressed satisfaction at the quality of job that has been done and advised the contractors to keep it up in order to complete the work on schedule. The Federal Controller of Works, Kogi State, Architect Hajara Enesi conducted the Minister round the 76 units of the houses which according to her is made up of 24 blocks of 3 bedrooms flats, 48 blocks of 2 bedroom flats and 4 blocks of 1 bedroom flats.

The controller also disclosed that a total of 12 contractors had been engaged to handle the project in the state. She stated that the estate, when completed, would be provided with social amenities like the police post, primary school and water supply.

The Architect averred that the project, which is schedule to be completed within 5 months, is expected to be handed over to the government in the next 2 months. Some of the contractors, who spoke to the minister commended the Federal Government for initiating the programme, in which they had been engaged to eke out a living.

They however said one of the problems being faced by them on the jobs is the lack of office accommodation and the need to review the cost of the project in view of escalating prices in the market. They appealed to the government to do something about these challenges quickly to enhance quality performance.

The Minister who was accompanied on the tour by some management staff of the ministry has since left the state in continuation of the tour to Nasarawa, Benue and plateau states respectively.