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.

Nov

2017

Fashola Flags Off 9th Experts’ Meeting On Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Programme •Says President Buhari is fully committed to realisation of the Project to enhance trade and communication within the sub-region •Highway will enhance rapid sub-regional integration, improve socio-economic activities, job opportunities and curb social vices-Minister The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, Tuesday in Abuja, flagged off the 9th Steering Committee & Experts Meeting on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Programme saying the highway would enhance rapid sub-regional integration and communication and other benefits among the stakeholders. In his address at the Transcorp Hilton venue of the 3-day Meeting, Fashola named other benefits of the Highway to include improvement in socio- economic activities among the West African countries, creation of employment opportunities and reduction in social vices, adding that rapid integration would enable the sub-region keep abreast with other fast growing economies such as Asia and South America. The Minister told the gathering of experts and professionals representing the five ECOWAS countries involved in the project-Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Benin Republic and Togo- “With the development of this Corridor, we will enhance rapid integration that already exists in other economic blocs in other parts of the world”. “It will improve socio- economic activities among the West African countries and it will lead to rapid integration, creation of employment opportunities and reduce social vices among our population”, he said adding, “It testifies to the strong bond among the African countries with common goals and aspirations to develop our sub-region both in terms of standard of living for our people and the level of communication between our countries”. Commending the ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments for their vision leading to the development of the project, Fashola described the meeting of the Steering Committee and Experts on the project as “crucial to the success of meeting the development of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor project”. The Minister told the Committee, “Let me say that when this Corridor is finished, very few people will see the work that you do; very few people will know how many hours you have spent preparing, planning, working and ultimately implementing the project. But I see that work, I acknowledge it and I appreciate it”. “As you are well aware, road development drives economic growth which the West African Sub-Region must pursue to keep abreast with the fast growing economies in Asia and South America with a view to reducing the migration of our youths and also keeping our precious human capital on the Continent”, he said. Expressing the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Government to the realisation of the project as a means to enhance trade and communication, Fashola declared, “This is why I am also happy to report at this Opening Session that Nigeria has now signed the financing agreement, which was one of the outstanding issues”. The Minister, who also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Finance in signing the Financing Agreement, noted that the global Ease of Doing Business report which was published recently acknowledged that Nigeria made “some inspiring progress”. He added, “And there is still work to be done if we are to deliver on vision of economic prosperity that we have”. “This is why I am very delighted and honoured to address this meeting of experts on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Development Project in preparation for the 9th Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting which will hold at this venue over the next few days”, he said. Also thanking members of the team in the Nigerian Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, from the Permanent Secretary to the Directors who were at the flag-off, Fashola, who specially thanked the Director Highways, (Planning and Development) Engineer Chukwunwike Uzo, declared, “I can say very clearly that if these Directors, our staff, were trying to build their own houses, the commitment they will show will not be greater than the commitment they are showing in the development of this project”. Thanking the Committee members for their efforts and wishing them “very happy and fruitful deliberations”, Fashola urged them to dedicate themselves to the noble project, “a project you are clearly committed to”, adding, “It holds the key to cross-border trade, to tourism, to cultural integration and to prosperity”. Earlier in her remarks, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Antoinette G. Weeks said the meeting of the Steering Committee and Experts on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development would finalize the documents for the various aspects of the project including, according to her, consultancy services in financing and road safety as well as the review of the various technical studies culminating in the award of the contracts. The Commissioner thanked Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and the Government for hosting the three day event and specifically expressed appreciation to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, as well as the Permanent Secretary, for the ground works and preparations leading to the present meeting. The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway is a 1,008 kilometre highway that will traverse five countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo and Nigeria and will provide access to vibrant sea ports which account for about 90 per cent exports and 60 per cent imports across the sub-region. According to the details released at the event, approximately 558 kilometres of the highway will run through Ghana, approximately 135 kilometres will run through Benin Republic, approximately 180 kilometres through Cote D’Ivoire, approximately 57 kilometres through Togo and approximately 78 Kilometres though Nigeria. Hakeem Bello Special Adviser, Communications To The Hon. Minister ...

Nov

2017

NERC Formally Presents Eligible Customer Regulations To Fashola •As Minister urges, public, stakeholders to take NERC consultations, notices seriously • Says Regulations will help improve capacity for electricity distribution to consumers who need the utility •Urges NERC to speed up work on the regulation on Meter The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, Monday received the regulations guiding the Eligible Customer policy in the electricity sector with an appeal to members of the public to always take seriously the consultations and Stakeholder notices being issued from time to time by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). In his remarks after the formal presentation of the document, Eligible Customer Regulations 2017, to him by Engr. Sanusi Garba, the NERC Vice Chairman, Fashola said such consultations were necessary as decisions taken thereafter would affect both members of the public and consumers as well as stakeholders in the sector. Citing an example with the Eligible Consumer Regulations just presented, the Minister, who noted that the regulations came by consulting with as many people as possible who will be affected by it and the declaration which he made, pointed out that while the DisCos would be affected in terms of potential revenue impact, consumers would be affected with regards to how they could possibly build distribution assets and how they would get compensated. “Members of the public must, therefore, understand that whether it is tariff setting, whether it is Eligible Customer declaration, NERC works, first by consultation, before it makes decisions so that all interests are carried as much as possible”, he said adding, “I want to use this opportunity to say that whenever consultation notices, stakeholder notices are issued by NERC, members of the public should take them seriously”. Describing the regulations as “a very important rule”, Fashola, who said it has been much awaited, added, “It will help us to improve the capacity for electricity distribution to consumers who need them; consumers also who are willing to make investments in providing distribution assets in a way that it then helps them to recover their costs and so on and so forth”. “But I will like members of the public to know that the process of making these rules did not come by sitting in the office. It came by consulting with as many people as possible who will be affected by the regulations and by the declaration that I have made; and I know that DisCos will be affected in terms of potential revenue impact and I believe that this has been taken care of in the regulation”, he said. The Minister, who also described the Eligible Customer Regulations as one of the steps in furtherance of the Power Sector Recovery Programme, declared, “This will assist the distribution end when it becomes implementable, the metering programme when the regulations come, when approved, the settlement of DisCo debts, MDA debts and solving the liquidity problem”, adding that everything being done in response to the power value chain was a step to the furtherance of the PSRP. Commending the NERC Management for its efforts in the production of the Regulations, the Minister expressed delight at the presentation promising to familiarize himself with the document and appealing to the Commission to upload the document on its website for the benefit of the public as well as share with the Ministry “so that all the agencies of government can help you to propagate and advertise this”. He, however, called on the Commission to speed up work on the regulation on Meter, adding, “Much as we welcome this (Eligible Customer Regulation), I think the regulation that everybody is waiting for is the regulation on Meter. It will be a good thing if you can complete that before this month is over and let us see then how quickly that can stimulate licensing of meter suppliers”. In his own remarks before presenting 10 copies of the document to the Minister, the NERC Vice Chairman, Engr. Sanusi Garba, recalled that after the declaration of the Eligible Customer policy in May and the modifications in October this year, the Commission constituted a Committee which made consultations through the six geopolitical zones of the country adding that the Commission took as much of the recommendations possible to cover the larger interest of the people. He said in arriving at its final position, the Commission benefitted from the technical advisory support from the USAID because, according to him, “We needed to leverage on the experiences of other emerging economies in the area of Eligible Customers”, adding on November 1, the Commission received the report from its Committee from which the Commission compiled the Regulations. While the Minister was joined at the event, which took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mabushi, by top officials of the Ministry, including the Permanent Secretary, Power, Engnr. Louis Edozien, the Interim Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr Usman Gur Mohammed, Directors and Special Advisers. On the side of NERC, aside the Vice Chairman were Dr Moses Arigu, the Commissioner for Consumer Affair; Prof. Frank Okafor, Commissioner for Engineering Performance and Monitoring; Mr Musiliu Oseni, Commissioner for Planning , Research and Strategy; and Dr Usman Arabi, Head Public Affairs Department. Hakeem Bello Special Adviser, Communications To The Hon. Minister ...

Nov

2017

Fashola Charges Universuty DONS To Produce Competitive Graduates -Challenges them on provision of affordable housing for indigent students The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has appealed to Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to meticulously pay significant attention to the academic curriculum of tertiary institutions, especially as it affects students in the built and construction industry. He added that ‘’this will ensure that Graduates are fit for the ever changing world and can compete favourably with their contemporaries worldwide.’’ The Minister stated this at the High Level Policy Dialogue on Affordable Housing for indigent students and low income earners organised by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities (CVC) in Abuja. Fashola, who was represented by the Minister of State II for Power, Works and Housing, Surv. Suleiman Hassan Zarma, mnis, commended the university Dons for the laudable initiatives of the new pro-poor housing framework aimed at addressing the housing challenges of these categories of people and indeed the entire citizenry. He stated that the CVC’s inspiration stemmed from the PhD work of Dr. Paschal Onyemaechi whose findings and research work has translated into a housing project termed ‘’Build for Nigeria’’ shared the vision of the present administration’s on-going construction of mass and affordable housing across the 36 States of the federation, under the National Housing Programme Scheme. According to the Minister, ‘’it is no longer news that there is a huge housing deficit in the country and that the poor and low income earners are at the receiving end. It is very unfair that our children at our Tertiary Institutions are also grappling with the problem of accommodation.’’ He however assured them that government is mindful of these situations and is heavily investing on infrastructural facilities, site and services schemes, mortgage facilities, Public Private Partnership Schemes and lots more to bridge the gap of the nation’s housing deficits. The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities which is coordinating collaboration amongst all the 153 universities in Nigeria, has decided to take the lead with the Dialogue, along with other sponsors and professional bodies to identify and proffer possible solutions to the escalating low-income housing deficit and the urban housing crisis in Nigeria. The overall essence of the research is to focus on how the benefits of Public Private Partnership (PPP) can be maximized to improve access to decent and affordable housing for low and middle-income earners in developing economies like Nigeria. The High-Level Policy Dialogue which featured panel discussants, presented a detailed report on the strategies for the implementation of the ‘Build for Nigeria’ solution to the Vice President and other leaders representing various interest groups and the general public. The occasion was graced by the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwuka, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Royal fathers and other keynote speakers. ...