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.

Dec

2020

COVID 19: Works Ministry Disinfects Complex, Urges Staff to Strictly Observe Protocol The entire building complex of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Mabushi Abuja had over the weekend been disinfected against the second raging wave of the Covid 19 in the Country. The Offices and surrounding of the building complex in both work and housing blocks have been disinfected and fumigated to stem the rising wave of the Corona virus which hit the Country of recent, with Lagos and Abuja FCT being the worst hit cities in the world. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Ernest Umakhihe said that the Minister Babatunde Fashola approved that the Ministry should not leave anything to chance in the current fight against the virus as such directed with immediate effect that all necessary Covid 19 preventive measures be put in place in the Ministry. To this effect, the Ministry has provided hand washing facilities and sanitisers in all offices and temperature check at relevant public places in the complex, in addition to displaying at strategic places the Covid 19 protocol requirements for public guidance. It would be recalled that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Musa Bello has reissued directives to all residents of FCT, offices and commercial environments to guard against violating the safety measures put in place by the NCDC since June 2020. Of recent also, some States including Lagos and Niger States have already directed their Civil Servants to work from home as a result of resurgence of COVID 19 Mr Umakhihe therefore directed Staff of the Ministry to ensure wearing of face masks in and outside their offices and also adhere to all the existing safety measures put in place by the NCDC ...

Dec

2020

How We Are Mitigating the Impact of Covid 19 - Fashola The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has revealed the contribution of his Ministry to the efforts of the Federal Government to overcome the economic downturn occasioned by the impact of Covid 19. Fashola made this disclosure in his address at the 26th National Council on Works in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State which took place from December 7- 11,2020. Fashola said the impact of the disease on livelihood and the global economy led countries across the globe to design and implement measures and policies to keep their economies going and reflate them. The Minister said the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari developed the Economic Sustainability Plan in order to provide work, increase opportunities and sustain productivity with the Ministry of Works and Housing as one of the focal MDAS for the implementation of the policy. Fashola said by May, 2020 11 of the biggest contractors of government returned to work in 26 states in addition to maintenance work by the Federal Road Maintenence Agency in 92 locations across 24 states of the Federation. All these according to Fashola contributed greatly to economic recovery with an increase of 41.81% in7 quarrying and other mineral deposits, 11.96% in cement manufacturing and 2.64% in construction. He added that there is an increase in wealth distribution as a result of increased economic activities and job creation in communities where construction works are going on. In his speech, the Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike who expressed happiness over the opportunity given to his state to host the event said, "Because most developed countries understand the critical link between transport infrastructure and economic advancement, they have successfully built their economic prosperity on the back of investing in adequate and modern transport infrastructure." Governor Wike said Nigeria cannot be an exception if it must realise basic developmental goals and make life more meaningful for the people. The Chairman Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero in his remarks commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Buhari for initiating various financial mechanisms such as the SUKUK Fund, the Presidential Initiative on Infrastructure Development Fund for road construction and rehabilitation to complement budgetary provisions which was grossly inadequate. He expressed the determination of the National Assembly to continue to support the developmental initiatives of the government. ...

Dec

2020

FG Reaffirms Commitment to Complete All Iconic Road Projects Across the Country The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Ernest Umakhihe has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to complete on-going iconic road infrastructure across the country. The Permanent Secretary made this known this morning while delivering a speech at the on-going 26th National Council on Works in Port Harcourt, Rivers State which started on Monday, December 7, 2020. Mr Umakhihe said, "The Federal Government is committed to completing some iconic projects such as the 2nd Niger Bridge, Bodo-Bonny Road, Abuja-Kaduna- Kano Express Way and Obajana-Kabba Road in Kogi State." "In the same vein, Government is also committed to completing the Sukuk Bond financed roads projects across the six geo-political zones of the country and maintain schedule maintenance of 5,000 kilometers of roads annually." He disclosed that the Ministry has over 700 on-going road projects across the country including road intervention projects in higher institutions of learning. Mr. Umakhihe explained that the commitment of government was premised on the determination to reduce poverty by creating wealth through road infrastructure development in both rural and urban areas of the country, adding that the objective of this year's Council was to propose viable actions to impact positively on national economic development in the country. Earlier in his address, the Rivers State Commissioner of Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi Esq stated that the Rivers State Government was delighted to host the meeting because the theme of the Council meeting echoed one of the policy thrust of the Rivers State Government, which is road infrastructure development. Citing the saying of the Chinese thus "If you want to be rich, build roads first" the Commissioner said his state government was aware that every positive step taken in the area of road infrastructure development impacts on the entire nation and its citizens. Tasie- Amadi further said the indices upon which the development of a nation is judged are based on the happenings in the states that make up the nation added that Rivers State Government was adding value to the development of the nation. He said, "For every infrastructure project we embark upon, we are fully aware that these contribute to the National Economic Growth be it a state or federal project." The Council meeting continues tomorrow with the meeting of Commissioners of Works in the 36 States and FCT to be Chaired by the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. ...