Federal Ministry of Works

Oct

2026

LATEST PRESS

UMAHI HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF TINUBU’S LEGACY PROJECTS, SAYS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ARE TRANSFORMING NIGERIA

The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has highlighted the progress and transformative impact of the major infrastructure projects being executed by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration, describing them as strategic investments aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s transportation network, strengthening national connectivity and stimulating economic growth.

Umahi said this on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, in Abuja, during a *Press Conference,* where he updated on the Tinubu Administration's *four Legacy Road Projects,* ongoing federal road interventions, completed projects, procurement processes, and the Ministry’s efforts to ensure value for money in the development of infrastructure.

The Minister identified the four legacy projects as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Highway (the Trans-Saharan Route/North-South connectivity corridor, and the Dualisation of Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Road.

According to him, the projects were conceived as strategic national infrastructure to connect all six (6) geopolitical zones, facilitate the movement of people and goods, open up economic opportunities, and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term development.

Giving an update on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi disclosed that Section 1, covering 47 kilometres, has been completed, while significant progress has also been recorded on Section 2, covering approximately 55 kilometres.

He explained that pavement works on Section 2 were nearing completion, while major flyovers, overpasses and underpasses were being constructed to address complex traffic, environmental and engineering challenges along the corridor.

The Minister said some parts of the alignment had to be redesigned to accommodate existing and planned rail, road and industrial infrastructure, particularly around the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport axis. He stressed that the objective was to develop an integrated transportation system rather than an isolated road project. On the Ondo State axis, Umahi explained that the alignment was redesigned in some locations because of difficult terrain, deep pits and challenging subsoil conditions. He said the redesign was aimed at ensuring durability, safety and cost-effectiveness, with substantial filling and ground improvement works ongoing in some areas.

The Minister further disclosed that President Tinubu had directed that the continuation of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway be aligned with the existing East-West Road in parts of the Niger Delta area.

He described the decision as a strategic engineering intervention that would address the increasing impact of flooding and climate change on the vital infrastructure. According to him, critical sections of the East-West Road would be raised to accommodate present and anticipated flood levels and ensure the continued functionality of the strategic route.

Umahi also dwelled on the importance of the Construction of the Benin City Bypass and other sections of the littoral corridor in reducing congestion and improving movement across the South-South zone.

On the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, the Minister said the project was designed to establish a major economic corridor linking Ilelah in Sokoto State with Badagry in Lagos State. He noted that various sections of the highway were at different stages of construction, with significant progress recorded across the Sokoto, Kebbi, Oyo, Ogun and Badagry axes, while those of Niger and Kwara States are commencing soon.

Umahi said the strategic importance of the project is beyond road construction, noting that the corridor would unlock agricultural, industrial, tourism and other economic opportunities. He added that the Federal Government was exploring opportunities for complementary investments, including agriculture, housing, tourism and other economic activities along the major infrastructure corridors.

Speaking on the third legacy project, the ancient Trans-Saharan Route, Engr. Umahi explained that it was designed to strengthen connectivity between the coastal axis and the northern parts of the country, thereby facilitating the movement of people, goods and services across the South-South, South East and North Central geopolitical zones.

He disclosed that substantial progress had been recorded on the initial sections, while additional sections had been approved to make the corridor more economically viable and attractive to potential financiers.

On the fourth legacy project, the Minister said the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri single carriageway is being expanded as a major northern connectivity route. He explained that the scope had been extended to cover an additional spur from Jos to Ibi in Taraba State, with design and procurement processes ongoing.

Responding to questions from journalists on the number of completed projects, the Minister listed several major road and bridge projects completed or ready for commissioning across the country. Among the projects, he mentioned Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Kwanar Danja-Hadejia Road, the Kaduna-Pambeguwa Road, the Lafia Bypass, the Bodo-Bonny Road with Bridges along the Opobo Channel, among many others.

He also listed the completed first lot of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Gombe-Potiskum rehabilitation project, sections of the Azare road linking Jigawa and Bauchi, the five-span Ampoha Bridge, the 23-kilometre, 23-span flyover project at Ekpoma-Benin axis, and a three-span, 75-metre dualised bridge structure.

Umahi further disclosed that several sections of the Lagos-Badagry and Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos-Shagamu-Ore corridors had been completed, while other sections were at advanced stages of completion.

He assured journalists that the Ministry was updating its compendium of completed and ongoing projects. “*We have quite a lot of projects. We have completed projects and we have ongoing projects. We are updating the compendium and it will be made available on the Ministry’s website and circulated to the public,”* he assured.

The Minister reiterated the Federal Ministry of Works' increasing adoption of concrete pavement on major highways, saying the need for greater durability and reduced maintenance costs is driving the policy.

According to him, the Ministry is developing infrastructure that would serve Nigerians for several decades and provide better value for public resources. He reiterated that concrete pavement provides longer durability guarantees, when properly designed and constructed, compared with the recurring maintenance challenges associated with conventional asphalt pavement.

Addressing questions concerning the procurement process for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi explained that the Ministry followed an applicable procurement framework. He said the special procurement approach was necessitated by the unique engineering requirements of constructing a major highway through a difficult coastal terrain.
According to him, the Ministry identified the need for a contractor with a proven track record in executing similar coastal infrastructure and subsequently made a recommendation to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). He disclosed that the BPP reviewed the recommendation and gave its clearance, while the Federal Executive Council remained the final approving authority.

Umahi said the Ministry subjected the contractor's bid to scrutiny by comparing proposed rates with prevailing market prices for materials and other inputs. He stressed that both indigenous and expatriate contractors were subjected to the same pricing and evaluation principles.

*“We put everybody on the same platform. We sent the proposals to the Bureau of Public Procurement. They reviewed it and where they felt that the rates went beyond their expected maxima, they called our attention to it, and we reviewed the rates accordingly,”* he explained.

The Minister also disclosed that substantial progress had been recorded on the Outstanding Sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, with all the sections completed except the Jere-Kaduna portion advancing steadily. He revealed that the Ministry is installing solar-powered lighting along the 375-kilometre Expressway to improve night visibility, thereby enhancing safety and security. He also said that the improved condition of the highway, alongside security interventions, was contributing to safer and more efficient movement along the corridor.

The Minister disclosed that the Ministry had commenced an *“Operation Rescue”* on the Benin-Asaba Expressway following challenges associated with the road and its existing concession arrangement. He said the Federal Government had intervened to restore mobility, while plans were being developed for a comprehensive reconstruction of the entire alignment, using continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP). He stressed that Nigerians should not continue to suffer because of unresolved contractual or concession-related issues.

The Minister, particularly, highlighted the Federal Government's increased infrastructure investment in the South East, saying the Tinubu Administration had demonstrated a clear commitment to reintegrating the hitherto neglected zone into the national infrastructure development programme. He said several major road projects had either been approved, commenced, or completed by the present administration.
Umahi, who is from the zone, said it might not have the highest number of federal projects compared with other geopolitical zones, but it was no longer being left behind.

*“We can't continue to live in denial. What we have been crying for is being given. The people of the South East are being fully reintegrated into the national infrastructure development plan,”* he emphasised.

He cited the completion of the Second Niger Bridge, the rehabilitation of the 1st Niger Bridge, ongoing construction of major Bypasses and other federal road projects in the zone as evidence of the administration's commitment.

The Minister maintained that infrastructure development should be viewed from the perspective of national integration rather than regional politics. He stated that the Federal Government's infrastructure agenda was intended to ensure that every part of Nigeria benefited from strategic investments in roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.

On the Tax-Credit Scheme’s projects inherited from the previous administrations, Umahi explained that the Federal Government had taken proactive measures to address them, especially where private-sector partners were no longer able to sustain previously approved financing arrangements.

He warned contractors, who had received mobilisation or project funds but failed to deploy the funds on the work that the Ministry would take appropriate steps to recover such funds. He stressed that accountability, performance and value for money remained central to the Ministry's project execution strategy.

The Minister also addressed the ongoing intervention on the First Niger Bridge, explaining that measures were being introduced to improve traffic management and protect the structural integrity of the bridge. He said the Ministry was installing appropriate traffic management infrastructure, CCTV cameras and other security measures at its Asaba and Onitsha ends. According to Umahi, the measures were necessary because bridges are designed primarily for dynamic as opposed to static loads, explaining that prolonged traffic gridlock can create additional structural and safety challenges. He said remedial works, repainting and other maintenance activities were also being undertaken to ensure the long-term usage of the structure.

Umahi further explained that the Federal Government's road development strategy included environmental considerations, such as the planting of trees along major highways and the installation of solar-powered street lighting. He said the initiative would help improve visibility and the environment, provide shade, and contribute to the reduction of harmful emissions along major transport corridors.

The Minister also linked infrastructure development to the broader economic reforms of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu Administration, saying improved roads and connectivity would support agricultural production, industrialisation, trade, commerce, tourism and investment. He maintained that the Federal Government's infrastructure investments were part of a broader strategy to move economic growth from the macroeconomic level to the grassroots.

On the financing of the major legacy projects, Umahi assured Nigerians that the Federal Government had put mechanisms in place to ensure that the projects are adequately funded to completion.
He revealed that significant portions of the projects had been funded, while loan-financing arrangements were being implemented for the remaining components.

He noted that the administration was determined not to embark on projects without ensuring that there was a credible financing mechanism for their completion.
*“We don't start what we will not finish. And we will not finish what we have not started,”* he stated.

The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry to completing inherited projects, while simultaneously delivering new strategic infrastructure under the Tinubu Administration. He said the legacy projects were not merely road construction schemes but long-term investments designed to transform Nigeria's economic landscape, improve connectivity, strengthen national integration and security, and create opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

In his closing remarks, the *Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary (DOOPS), Mohammed Aminu Ahmed, FCNA,* expressed appreciation to the Minister, members of the media, and all participants for attending. He commended the media for its continued partnership with the Ministry in informing Nigerians about government infrastructure projects and encouraged it to continue to provide constructive criticism on the Ministry's activities.

Feb

2018

“STRIKE MUST BE A LAST RESORT” - FASHOLA The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has expressed that industrial actions such as strike should be the last resort and not the first option when trying to resolve problematic situations or issues. Fashola stated this at a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), branch of NUPENG when the former paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday, February 1st, 2018 at the Ministry conference room. He revealed that the Tatabu Bridge will be completed before the end of the year but however denied corrupt practices in road execution as alleged, saying that the “solution to bad roads is a long process” while requesting that evidence and proof of corrupt practices concerning the sector should be brought forward for investigation. The National President of NARTO, Dr. Kassim Bataiya, earlier in his speech commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and particularly applauded the Ministry for its commitment and performance thus far. Dr. Bataiya noted that the present administration is making effort to reverse the situation of bad roads by approving the rehabilitation, dualisation, construction and re-construction of several Federal highways across the six geo-political zones. While enumerating the causes of road failure to poor design and construction; poor maintenance; use of low quality materials, heavy traffic and so on, the association suggested both short and long terms recommendations such as banning the importation of 60,000-litre capacity tanks into the country, the use of rail transport for the movement of heavy equipment, FERMA to be directed towards ensuring routine maintenance are carried out on regular basis, dumping of refuse, as well as hawking to be prohibited amongst others. The Association further appealed to government ‘to take cognizance of the non-availability of trucks”, and “think of how to provide enough trucks to transport the extra load that will be generated due to the application of the axle load policy. It stated that the total number of active trucks in the country is not more than 20,000. A presentation of update and work done so far on Federal roads and bridges was done by the Director, HighWays Planning and Development, Chukwunwike Ogbonna Uzo, who explained that the ministry had already planned to meet with all stakeholders in the sector in other to wholistically fashion out the way forward for the sector. Also in attendance at the meeting was the Minister of State I, Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Honourable Mustapha Baba Shehuri and relevant Directors of the Ministry. ...

Feb

2018

FG To Complete Tatabu Bridge Reconstruction In 2018 The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola recently said that the reconstruction work on Tatabu bridge along Mokwa-Jebba road would be completed before the end of 2018. Fashola said this in Abuja when a delegation from the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) paid him a courtesy visit. He said the contractor handling the project was already on site, adding that the arrangement by the Federal Government when the bridge collapsed was to have a temporary road for motorists. “When I first came on that road, from llorin to Jebba, your people were there for two weeks, they could not move but as I speak to you, that side has improved. “The contractor has created a temporary road, while the reconstruction work on the bridge is ongoing and we cannot complete the project in 14 days even with all the resources available,” he said. He said plans had been concluded in the ministry to have a workshop with members of NARTO and PTD on ways to make Nigerian roads safe and durable. The minister said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved that certain vehicles would be restricted from being loaded beyond a certain point in ports and NNPC depots. According to him, before we will start the implementation, we thought we should have a workshop with you so that you will know what we want to do. Dr Kassim Bataiya, the President of NARTO and leader of the delegation, commended the minister for his efforts in addressing the problems of decaying infrastructure in the country. He said several reasons account for the failure of roads in the country but observed that the Federal Government was particularly pointing accusing fingers on overloading of trucks. “While agreeing that overloading is one of the causes, we have consistently maintained that standards in road design, materials, construction and supervision are compromised,” he said. He pledged the commitment of NARTO and PTD to cooperate with the Federal Government to ensure sanity, safety and security on Nigerian roads. Source: (NAN) ...

Jan

2018

Tambuwal Commissions 80KWp Solar Electricity Project Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has commissioned the 80KWp solar mini – grid electricity project which will provide uninterrupted power supply to Kurudla Village in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Friday 19th January, 2018. Tambuwal said more than 500 households would benefit from clean electricity supply. In his words, he said “today’s event marks the beginning of a great collaborative effort towards ensuring sustainable growth through renewable energy sector development. It has now become absolutely necessary to take advantage of the ongoing renewable energy effort to ensure self – sufficiency in energy for economic development”. He added that “mini – grid powered by renewable sources is the best option for us to expand electricity access in the rural areas where the national grid is not available”. The governor used the occasion and appealed to the community leaders and residents to ensure adequate security of the equipment and personnel handling the project, while disclosing that the project is co – funded by the European Union, and jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the German International Development Agency, Deutsche Geseuschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) which partnered with the Sokoto State Government and a private investor, GoSolar Africa Energy Limited to develop the project. Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of State II, Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan Zarma, expressed the readiness of the Buhari’s led administration to work with development partners and the private sector on energy solutions so that those at the remote and underserved rural communities would also have access to reliable and sustainable electricity supply at affordable prices. To this effect, the Minister said “in May 2016, the Federal government initiated the Road map of Incremental, Steady and Uninterrupted Power Supply and adopted the policy of diversifying the Nigerian Energy Mix”. Adding that the Federal government have in the last two years developed several policies and action plans aimed at developing our renewable energy resources which include: the National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAP) and Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) action agenda in line with the Federal government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and particularly to serve as implementation tool for the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (NREEEP) approved by the Federal Executive Council ( FEC) IN 2015. He said “Federal government have also recently developed a Power Sector Recovery Plan (PSRP) which is aimed at addressing some of the core problems facing the power industry”. Earlier, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Dietmar Kreusel, had expressed optimism that the introduction of solar mini grid would expand access to electricity not just in Kurudla, but in other areas of the country. In a similar vein, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ketil Karlsen, said that over 1.5 billion people globally lacked access to cheap, affordable and steady electricity, which Nigeria falls into. In his part, the country’s representative of a private firm, GoSolar Africa Energy Limited, Mr. Femi Oye said the provision of the solar project has led to improved life of the people of Kurudla community through improved education, water and jobs as a lot of economic activities such as millers, iron benders as well as shops and saloons have started springing up in the area. ...