Federal Ministry of Works

Sep

2026

LATEST PRESS

FG EMBARKS ON DECISIVE EMERGENCY INTERVENTION ON BENIN-ASABA EXPRESSWAY

The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has kick-started the Federal Government’s emergency intervention on the Benin–Asaba Highway under the Ministry’s “Operation Rescue” initiative, aimed at restoring safe, smooth, and uninterrupted movement along the critical corridor. The intervention, to be carried out by the Ministry, through the hiring of equipment and direct implementation, is a demonstration of its determination to address the severe deterioration of sections of the road and bring immediate relief to motorists, commuters, businesses, and the affected communities. He made this known during the inauguration of *"Operation Rescue Benin -Asaba Expressway”* at Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, 24 September, 2026. The Benin–Asaba Highway is a strategic Federal Highway that commences at AIF Roundabout in Benin City, Edo State, and terminates at Summit Junction in Asaba, Delta State, with a distance of 125km. It was concessioned to the Benin-Asaba Expressway Concession Company (BAECC) by the immediate past administration but the handing over of the site was performed by the present one in March, 2025. However, it has since been proven that the Concessionaire lacks the technical and financial capabilities to execute the project. This was established by the *Independent Engineer (I.E.)* for the project, *Messrs Yolas Consultants Limited*.* Considering the plight of road users and the continued deterioration of the concessioned road, the I.E. advised the Ministry to urgently take all necessary steps to save it from further deterioration, avert further gridlock, assuage the suffering of motorists, as well as save the Federal Government from embarrassment.

Engr. Umahi has personally been monitoring the implementation of the concession project, through several site visits and issued instructions via the I.E. for the *Concessionaire* to stick to the Ministry’s standards and methodology, which were not complied with leading to the worsening of the road condition. Hence, the Ministry’s intervention to save the critically failed sections of the Expressway, through the deployment of equipment and personnel.

The Federal Ministry of Works, according to the Minister, is poised to alleviate the hardship being experienced by road users and communities on the corridor, alike. He reiterated that the Federal Government would not allow the condition of a major national artery to continue to undermine economic activities, the movement of people, goods, and services, as well as the safety of road users and the host communities. He stressed that the emergency intervention is focused on achieving immediate traffic relief, while providing a sustainable engineering solution to the identified problem spots.

According to him, the intervention is also being driven by the overriding need to protect public interest and ensure that Nigerians using the road are not left to bear the consequences of the deteriorating infrastructure occasioned by the lapses of the *Concessionaire.* The Minister emphasised that *” this is not a new contract but an immediate solution to the plight of road users.”* He reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to restoring critical road infrastructure across the country and ensuring that emergencies receive prompt and decisive attention.

*“Operation Rescue”* is about immediate action, restoration of movement, and protection of the travelling public and communities along the corridor. *“We are determined to address the failed sections and, thereafter, provide a durable solution that will serve Nigerians for many years,”* the Minister asserted.

Engr. Umahi called on road users and people along the corridor to cooperate with the Ministry’s officials and traffic-management personnel, as emergency works commence, assuring them that the Ministry would continue to monitor progress and take all necessary measures to minimise hardship during the period of the intervention. “*I am pleading with motorists to exercise patience, observe traffic-management directives and drive cautiously around active construction zones,* he stated.

Engr. Umahi highly commended President Tinubu's concern over the well-being of citizens, reiterating that *”the Ministry remains committed to restoring the Benin–Asaba Expressway to a safe, functional and durable condition in the overall interest of Nigerians and the national economy."*

Before this, the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo had demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of his people during the protest in August, 2026 caused by the bad state of the road by immediately identifying with the situation and dispatching his Chief of Staff to appeal for calm and reassure the affected communities and motorists of immediate remedial action. Speaking at the Ceremony, His Excellency appreciated the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his prompt and decisive intervention, as well as the Minister of Works for his continued commitment to the provision of road infrastructure across the country.

The Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Deputy, Charles Anaogu, expressed much gratitude for the immediate response in restoring the all-important road. *”It is a well-desired action to better the lives of the people of Delta State and the general public,* he added.

The *representative of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),* applauded the President for his commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region. He also commended the Honourable Minister for his steadfastness to the welfare of the people of the zone and Nigerians, at large.

Delivering the Welcome Address earlier, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Project Implementation and Monitoring, Engr. Phoebe William Bello, described the rescue operation as very timely in reinstating the critical transportation corridor connecting communities, facilitating mobility, commerce and trade between Edo and Delta States with the other parts of the country. Therefore,*its importance cannot be overstated,”* she noted.

The occasion was graced by lots of dignitaries and Goodwill Messages were delivered by the Deputy Governors of Edo and Delta States, the Rt. Honourable Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, the Youth Leader of Ikpaba Hill Community, and other stakeholders, who unanimously eulogised the Federal Government’s proactive response.

Nov

2021

Damages On Federal Roads Now To Be Prosecuted By Attorneys-General Of Host States · Fashola requests Ogun State Attorney-General to take over prosecution of case of damage to flyover bridges on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway In a bid to stem the tide of wilful damage to Federal Roads and other infrastructure across the country as it strives to renew the nation’s infrastructure, the Federal Government has directed State Attorneys-General to henceforth prosecute all such cases and ensure that offenders face legal sanctions. The directive, which emanated from the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, specifically directed the Attorneys-General of the 36 States of the Federal to immediately takeover both pending and new cases of damages to Federal roads, bridges and other public utilities within their jurisdictions. On the strength of this directive, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has written to the Attorney-General of Ogun State requesting him to take over a criminal case of damage to three flyover bridges along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway against one Folarin Temitope. According to the letter dated October 14, 2021, the fact of the case, RE-CHARGE NO: MIS/221/2021: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE VS FOLAREIN TIMITOPE ‘M’ 30 YEARS, is that on March 12, 2021, one Folarin Temitope, while driving a low-bed Renault trailer with registration number MUS 758 XU, conveying an excavator, damaged three flyover bridges at Ogunmakin, Isara and Sapade respectively along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Investigations later by the Ogunmakin Unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) revealed that the excavator inflicted the damage on the bridges because its height was above the clearance level allowed by the bridges and this led to the booking of the driver for road obstruction and dangerous driving while the Isara Police Division impounded the vehicle and charged the driver to the Isara Magistrate Court in Ogun State. Noting that the Court ordered the release of the vehicle owners when the case came up for hearing at the Court on August 3, 2021, Fashola requested the Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take over the prosecution of the suit saying the seriousness of the case required that the Commissioner for Justice should “exercise his constitutional power to take over the suit” as directed by the Federal Government. Requesting the Commissioner to liaise with the FRSC and the Police Prosecutor for further information about the case, the Minister declared, “having regard to the seriousness of the offense and the implication of the damage occasioned by the negligence of the driver on the affected bridges, the Federal Government is interested in ensuring that the matter is prosecuted diligently and professionally by the Ministry of Justice with Counsel in the Ministry of Works and Housing holding watching brief”. ...

Nov

2021

Third Mainland Bridge Is Safe, Intact The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Engineer Olukayode Popoola, has debunked insinuations making the rounds in the social media that the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos has “opened up” and “shaking” and, therefore, unsafe to traffic saying the claim was both false and unfounded. Giving an on-the-spot report on the Bridge, the Controller, who said he just drove along the Bridge without noticing any opening or experiencing any shaking as contained in the social media report, advised members of the public, especially commuters, to ignore the insinuations as the Bridge, which is receiving regular attention along with others across the country, is safe for use. ...

Nov

2021

We will continue to prioritize welfare of staff - Perm. Sec. (FMW&H) The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMW&H) Babangida Hussaini has said that his Ministry under the leadership of His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN will continue to give priority to staff welfare in order to motivate them to give their best to the service of the nation as the Ministry pursues President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate of infrastructural development in the nation. Mr Hussaini made the remarks during handing over of the newly acquired four 36-seater Toyota Coaster Buses to the staff of his Ministry through their union, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), today in the premises of the Ministry. The official handing over event took place at the Ministry Headquarters with some of the Management staff, The Labour Union Executive members and some staff of the Ministry in attendance. The Permanent Secretary in his remarks said that he was grateful to God for making the purchase possible and to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN for granting approval for the procurement and commended the Executives of the Union for their maturity during the procurement period. Mr Hussaini said he was dedicating the purchase to Director of Human Resources Works and Housing Umar Abdullahi Utono who retired today as a parting gift due to his wise counsel and for the necessary follow up to make the purchase a reality. He promised that more staff buses would still be purchased as the procurement is in batches while the old ones that are grounded would be refurbished as soon as proposal from the reputable motor mechanics are considered for approval. Director Human Resources of the Ministry, Umar Abdullahi Utono said “I cherish the Permanent Secretary for the official handing over of the buses to staff, and it is one event that will remain in my memory, and he has provided welfare for staff within a short period. The four buses would cover the following major routes: Bwari /Dutse, Suleja, Karshi /Jikwoyi and Gwagwalada. It is a major milestone.” The Union Chairman of Works and Housing branch of AUPCTRE, Comrade Sunday Sanusi said “When I heard that these vehicles have been purchased it was like a dream to me, I am using this opportunity to say thank you to Permanent Secretary and the management for making it a reality.” The official handing over of the event was rounded off after the Permanent Secretary performed the test running of the buses. ...