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.

Mar

2025

WORKS MINISTER UMAHI COMMENDS HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVES OF PRESIDENT TINUBU, TASKS STAKEHOLDERS ON COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE SHARED GOALS. CONGRATULATES SSA TO PRESIDENT ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOUTH-EAST FOR HER COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING HUMAN EMPOWERMENT AND PROMOTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has praised the efforts of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in developing critical competencies that will improve health care and other service delivery in Nigeria's health care related academic institutions. The Honourable Minister made this commendation during the flag-off of a health care programme on free cancer screening, free eye testing, free dialysis, and skills up empowerment programme for the people and residents of South East organized by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement South East, Barr. (Mrs) Chioma Nweze, in conjunction with David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences Uburu, held at the university premises on 8th March 2025. The Honourable Minister, who represented the President of Nigeria during the event, said the Federal Government was committed to providing enabling infrastructure and the most conducive learning environment in our universities. He recounted the various interventions of Mr. President to David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, which was incidentally built by the Honourable Minister when he was the Governor of Ebonyi State and which law establishing it and naming it after the founder, David Umahi, was passed by the 10th National Assembly under the Renewed Hope administration. He said, "I thank Mr. President, so much for the asphalting of this institution, the building of the hall that is here, and so many things, including the uninterrupted power supply enjoyed by the university." He expressed appreciation to the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon.Prince Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB GGCEHF and his dear wife, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs) Uzoamaka Mary-Maudline Ogbonna Nwifuru for their commitments to the advancement of learning and excellence in the university. "Greet the Governor and his dear wife for me." I am going to support their commitments to this institution when I make my donation. Tell the Governor that I appreciate his subvention to this federal institution, which he gives every month." The Honourable Minister commended the SSA to the President on Community Engagement, South-East for the thoughtful motivations of her programme which he said was a wakeup call to all stakeholders, public and private institutions to show collaborative support to the government to achieve shared goals in health care delivery. "And so, what you are doing beyond Ebonyi State for the entire South-East and extending it to the entire Nigeria is commendable. Congratulations on your commitment. Congratulations on this programme" He pledged his continual support to the university to enable it to realize its goals of achieving unmatched excellence in their health care facilities such as Radiology Centre, Cancer Centre, Eye Centre, Kidney Centre, Maternal and Childbirth Centre. Speaking during the event, the representative of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Her Excellency, Princess Patricia Obila, who is also the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, extolled the initiative of the SSA on Community Engagement to give the people access to quality health care and life changing empowerment and assured of the commitment of the State Government in supporting the Federal University of Health Sciences in the State in realizing the objectives of its establishment. "We have committed so much, both money, a lot of commitment, and still, this government is also highly determined and committed to giving all the enabling environment to make sure that any programme concerning health is given the total support it deserves." Earlier in her address, the SSA to the President on Community Engagement said she initiated the health care outreach and skill up empowerment programme for South-East communities to add value to the laudable initiatives of Mr. President's administration, which is aimed at stimulating economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians. She said, "I recognize that access to quality health care is a fundamental human right, and it is our responsibility to ensure that every individual in the South-East has access to it, regardless of their background or financial situation. Our medical outreach initiative, which we have earlier started, is a multifaceted programme that will provide a range of free medical services, including cancer screening, free eye screening, and medical classes to the first 200 patients. We have also provided dialysis treatment for one year for all the 97 Local Government Areas in the South-East. My office will equally be flagging off the skill up South-East programme, which focuses on empowerment of the people and residents of South-East through fashion and entrepreneurship." She further assured, "Our participants will have access to modern tailoring facilities, mentorship, and guidance from industrial experts. We are not only empowering our youths through skill acquisition, but we are also providing them with the opportunity to develop their business plans and pitch their ideas. This will enable them to become entrepreneurs and job creators, contributing to the economic growth and development of our region." She thanked immensely the collaborations of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences and solicited for more collaborations from public spirited individuals and bodies to enable her to attain the aspirations of her office in raising capacities and enhancing self reliance in South-East ...

Mar

2025

**FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS’ POLICY YIELDING RESULTS ** — Mobilise to Site for 2 Weeks Before Payment of Mobilisation Fees - Umahi* The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Engr. (Sen.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE has continued to insist that only contractors, who can deliver are needed to work on Nigeria roads. This is to guarantee that road projects are not abandoned by recalcitrant contractors. He stated this while inspecting ongoing works on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) that starts from the Zuba Interchange (CH0+000) and ends at the Western Bypass (CH165+500) in Kaduna, the Kaduna State Capital with an additional four (4) kilometres from Zuba towards Gwagwalada on the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway. Forty (40) kilometres (dual) will be on rigid pavement (concrete). According to the Minister, the company, Messrs Infoquest International (Nig.) Limited has proven its capacity to deliver quality jobs on record time, seeing how far they have gone within a month of signing the contract. “This is without being paid the initial 30% mobilisation fee as against what has been the previous practice,” he emphasised. He stressed that the Ministry’s decision that every contractor must be at the site and working for at least two weeks before the mobilisation fee is paid, is the way to go for sustainable project development and delivery. Commending the quality of work, the Minister urged Resident Engineers/Engineer’s Representatives on other projects, across the country, to be vigilant in ensuring that the correct composition of the stone base is achieved, stressing that a standard stone base must contain at least 70% stone, hence the name and 30% dust. “Any deviation from this ratio will compromise the road’s structural integrity, leading to premature failure,” he observed. Engr. Umahi also reiterated that the Abuja-Kano Dual Carriageway is so dear to Mr. President’s heart, being a vital corridor linking the North to the southern parts of the country, as well as neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Niger, and Benin Republics. While promising that the remaining portion of the entire alignment, Section III (Zaria-Kano), which is at the Kano end of the project, will soon be approved and awarded, he advised that reinforced concrete overlay be completed on the underlying structures before the commencement of the rainy season. It would be recalled that this was the project that was unnecessarily delayed for many years by Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) PLC (JBN) and courageously terminated by the Ministry, some months ago, Umahi explained. "This project is the heartbeat of Mr. President because of its economic value. We are committed to ensuring its timely completion, and by the first week of March, we will begin laying an eight-inch continuous reinforced concrete pavement," the Minister stated. He reiterated that “The Federal Government remains resolute in its commitment to quality infrastructure development, ensuring that all projects under the Ministry’s supervision must meet the highest standards and be completed on schedule.” He added that interested companies must adhere to international standards and recommended practices in road construction or exit the scene. The Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer of the construction firm, Mr. Joseph Abougaoude disclosed that the company took the challenge to start the work without any payment of mobilisation fees because it is capable and, most importantly, its belief in the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He promised to deliver the contract following standards and on record time. He went further to acknowledge the Minister’s proactive leadership, adding "My promise is that I will not let you down. I take this project as a challenge and accept my role in ensuring its success. I am fully committed to this project and will push ahead to meet expectations." While fielding questions from reporters on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the status of Julius Berger vis-a-vis contract with the Ministry, the Minister confirmed that before the end of the year, the entire first section of the Highway will be completed and that JBN is not sidelined from the Ministry’s contracts but, on the contrary, they are still working for the Ministry on other road infrastructure projects like the Bodo-Bonny Road, some major bridges in Lagos, as well as other places in Nigeria. He commended the new leadership of the company for aligning with the policies of the Ministry and respecting professional engineering standards. ...

Feb

2025

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS/ MTN MEETS ON QUALITY AND SPEEDY DELIVERY OF ENUGU - ONITSHA EXPRESSWAY PROJECT FUNDED BY MTN UNDER TAX CREDIT SCHEME,FIXES COMPLETION DEADLINE FOR 10TH MAY 2026 AS HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WORKS CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REDUCTION OF COST OF CEMENT TO N7,000 BY MANUFACTURERS GIVEN THE INCREASED ECONOMIC REBOUND THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT’S SUSTAINED REFORMS The meeting of the Federal Ministry of Works with MTN and RCC Company Nig. Ltd over the slow funding and execution of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway by MTN under the Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment (Tax Credit) Scheme, held at the Ministry's headquarters, Mabushi-Abuja on 26th February 2025 has ended with the following resolutions: A - The construction of Enugu-Onitsha dual-carriageway must be completed by 10th May 2026. B - MTN shall be held responsible should the road fail after construction on account of shady job by the contractor. C - There will be no variation or VOP on the project and RCC must note that going forward, the operation of VOP in their projects must be in accordance with the procedure contained in the Conditions of Contract and not at the whims and caprices of the contractor. D - MTN not to sacrifice their responsibility of funding the project at the altar of MTN's business profit as this will wittingly or unwittingly inhibit speedy delivery of the project and inpune on the public perception of the will of government to ensure logical completion of the project. E - There must be a commitment in writing between MTN and the Federal Ministry of Works that this offer is predicated on these conditions herein set out. There must be a commitment because the more the job delays, the more there is variation. Speaking during the meeting, which had in attendance, the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Mohammad Bello Goronyo Esq, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. O.O Adebiyi, the representatives of MTN, the Managing Director of RCC Company Nig Ltd and his team, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON reiterated that the Federal Ministry of Works is unwavering in its commitment towards ensuring that the contractor handling the project, and in this case MTN that is handling the project under the Tax Credit Scheme is made to ensure quality and speedy delivery of the project. He wondered why an official of MTN could go on his way to insinuate that the directive made by the Federal Ministry of Works that RCC Ltd should stop using materials that could derail the quality outcome of the job amounted to a sabotage of the projects of Mr. President in South East. He said,: "We have to put the records straight that this ministry has the responsibility to ensure quality delivery of work by contractors. And the contractor in this case is MTN". He recounted the various inspection visits he made to contractors' project sites and how this had caused them to brace up for ensuring quality and speed in project delivery. He said of MTN's Enugu-Onitsha Expressway project, "We went through what MTN was doing. We discovered that they were using peeled sand to do the job. I'm an engineer. I'm not a history graduate. I'm a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and I've spent all my life in the field. And we gave a directive, which is in line with the general conditions of contract, that should stop using such sand but go back, and use river sand, which we paid for." The Honourable Minister emphasized the need for RCC Nig Ltd to play by the rule in project variation. He decried as unacceptable a situation where RCC could do a job of N38 billion and demand for a VOP N14 billion and said that going forward such indulgence by contractors in the name of inflation would not be tolerated. He used the medium to call on the manufacturers of cement, which is a key element in the construction industry, especially on the use of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement, to please reduce the cost of cement to N7,000 as the price of dollar has drastically reduced, the cost of petrol is coming down and efforts are being made by Mr. President to fix the road. He said, "I'm happy that the policies of Mr. President, are working. Today, a dollar is about N1,400. And let me use the opportunity to express dissatisfaction with the cost of cement. Our contractors have called and complained that they wanted to move back to asphalt. We are using this medium to tell the cement manufacturers that at the time, the dollar was almost N2,000, they increased cement from N7,500. Why should today that the President has brought dollar to stability to about N1400, and is still going down, why should cement be selling for N9,500? We are requesting cement manufacturers to bring down the cost of cement to N7,000. If after one week they don't do that, I have to complain officially to Mr. President." In their separate remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Works and the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works estolled the stance of the Federal Ministry of Works on the policies that would not only fast track job execution but also guarantee value for money and quality project outcome. They urged the contractor to cooperate with the new paradigm under the Renewed Hope administration and work towards delivering the Enugu-Onitsha dual-carriageway on a record time so that Mr. President could commission it for public use. The representative of MTN in his vote of thanks expressed the readiness of MTN in working towards realizing the delivery of the project within the agreed timeline. ...

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PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Nov

2025

OTHER NEWS

Jul

2021

Federal Ministry Works & Housing Sets Up Ministerial And Departmental Task Team To Enforce Covid-19 Protocols

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry Works and Housing, Babangida Hussaini has given a strong warning to those violating the Covid 19 Prevention protocols in the Ministry to desist from such or stay away from the Ministry.

The Permanent Secretary gave the warning earlier today while inaugurating a Ministerial and Departmental Task Team on Covid-19.

Mr. Babangida said that the Task Team was to ensure compliance with prescribed preventive measures and curtailing the spread of Covid-19 Virus, adding that every aspect of Covid-19 control mechanism and crowd control must be adopted and enforced.

He also urged the newly inaugurated Task Team to generate massive awareness campaign on the consequences of the breach of prescribed Covid-19 preventive Protocols and put in place adequate sanctions against violators.

The Permanent Secretary noted with concern the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the last few weeks and charged the team to save the government from unnecessary expenses associated with uncontrolled spread of the pandemic, adding that lives of Nigerians are considered very important by the government.

He ordered that henceforth, the team should monitor staff’ and visitors’ compliance to the protocols and punish offenders to deter others.

He therefore, directed that patrol along the corridor in the Ministry should be ramped up and that a reporting template should be put up as well as activating all sanitary facilities within the Ministry.

The Committee which was a ten- man team was chaired by the Ministry’s Director Human Resource Management, Mr. Umar Abdullahi Utono

SPEECHES

Sep

2019

Ikoyi Club At 81: The Youth And Leadership In Nation Building, Lecture Delivered By Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN At The Anniversary Lecture To Commemorate The 81st Anniversary Of Ikoyi Club 1938

Ladies and gentlemen, let me thank the Vice Chairman of Ikoyi Club, who incidentally is Chairman of the anniversary sub-committee, Tafa Zibiri-Aliu, and by extension, the management and entire body of members of the Ikoyi Club 1938 for inviting me to deliver this anniversary lecture.

Because it is an anniversary, felicitations are in order and I offer congratulations to all of you members of this club and to myself, being a member in my own right. As we say in Eko: “Mo yo fun e, mo yo fun ara mi”.

It is not easy to deal with my assigned topic which is Ikoyi Club at 81: The Youth and Leadership in Nation Building. In that sense, my host has not done me any favours by setting me this difficult task.

Firstly, 81 years of Ikoyi Club is eight decades of history entwined with the early development of Nigeria that features valleys and hills of segregation, war, independence, births, deaths, family tribulations and triumphs, consultations and confrontation with government, court cases and much more.

To undertake only a review of those eighty-one years will keep us here for a long time. Time that we certainly do not have today.

What is important is that against the odds, in spite of the passage of time, Ikoyi Club 1938 has not only survived, it has endured and prospered.

One of the reasons for this, and there are many, is the fact that it is a family club, where children can come with their parents and get exposed very early to the finest traditions of the club, mature to become youth (young adults), become members in their own right and ultimately rise to various positions of responsibility and leadership in their various sections and main management committee in a series of torch passing moments and generational regeneration for which Ikoyi club has been the beneficiary.

Secondly, the youth and the role they play in emerging leadership have been and remain a subject of long and continuing study that we cannot exhaust today.

Therefore, to make my task easier than my host may have planned, I will be speaking about youth and leadership within a context and I will come to the context shortly.

In the early days of Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary quarter of a century reign as Manchester United’s most successful manager, he decided to disband the old and aging players he inherited.

He fielded a team of mostly teenagers and a few players in their early twenties in the season of 1992. The British press was unsparing in their condemnations and criticisms.

The most memorable headline was one which read: “You cannot win anything with kids.”

Sir Alex Ferguson was famously later to reply by saying “You cannot win anything without them,” because those kids, who later and forever will be known as the Class of 1992 became so successful and have remained the gold standard for that club and many others.

It was on their backs that two decades of success and global brand building of the Manchester United colours was achieved and propagated to every continent and to millions if not billions of homes.

This is the context about which I want to speak about the youth and leadership because in truth and in fact, it is the youth who have borne the responsibility of leadership as history has shown us.

Whether it is the young men, mostly teenagers, who bravely charged at the German forces on the beach of Normandy in June of 1944, to free Europe and the rest of the world from a very mendacious leader; or the young Herbert Macaulay, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and their ilk, who in the prime of youthfulness, dared to ask, challenge and struggle for independence against British Imperial rule; or the Golden Eaglets who won our first gold in global cadet football in 1985 to be followed by the Olympic medallists of 1996; or those who battled adversity in the desert in the ‘Miracle’ of Damman to set an example of an unflagging and undying Nigerian spirit.

It is the youth who have projected the might, resourcefulness and the possibilities of their nations across the world.

History is replete with records of bravery, daring, decisiveness and leadership that the young people have provided everywhere.

In business, entrepreneurship and innovation, it is the youth and young people who have led the way and demonstrated leadership.

Brands like Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter are products of youthful endeavour, daring and innovation that have re-ordered our world. In Nigeria, brands like GT Bank, Thisday Newspaper, Zenith Bank, Dangote Group, Oando and many more are the products of the youthful endeavour and determination of the Fola Adeolas, Nduka Obaigbenas, Jim Ovia, Aliko Dangote, Wale Tinubu and many more of their type.

They may have needed government permits, licenses and other approvals, but they did not refuse to act because government was not acting.

If you under estimate what the generation of Chief Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, on one hand and the generation of the Dangotes, Obaigbenas and Adeolas have done (and their list is much longer than I can recount in this speech) perhaps a few points will help to remind us.

Let us all remind ourselves that in the period before independence, there was racial segregation in Nigeria and Nigerians could not use this club as members.

Imagine if that generation of young men and women did not act by agitating for independence, would the walls of segregation have voluntarily given way? Would Nigerians have become members of this club, would they have invited me to speak here today?

Imagine the days when it took a whole day to cash a cheque, and two days to get a bank draft or recall the middlemen who prospered on the back of ordinary citizens when we had to import cement; and remember the days when only government controlled the print and electronic media.

If you do, and you think banking is easier today, cement is no longer a dealer’s racket and the news and information are easier to access, we must salute the daring and the endeavour of that generation of Nigerians.

We must also acknowledge another generation who have started walking this path, who are now in their twenties, thirties and forties and who are building a new series of brands in medicine, industrialization, entertainment, agriculture and other areas too numerous to mention.

They are already acting to take leadership. They are propelled by the fire of youthfulness and the capacity to dare.

Presently, shortly, and in the imminent future, we are, we will and we expect to feel the impact of their efforts as they will change the way we live and experience life.

And this is the centre point of my address. The Duty of the youth and their Responsibility for leadership.

Every generation of young people must understand their duty, rise up to it, and discharge it not only for themselves, but also for the next generation.

It is that sense of duty and the responsibility to act, as distinct from rights and the sense of entitlement, that is the defining character of the youthfulness in nation building and it is about some of those duties, that I wish to speak.

Sadly, I say so, we have been more concerned about rights and less about duties and we have abandoned many of the traditional building blocks that helped to prepare children into dutiful young persons and adults.

Indeed, until recently, our constitution only first provided for rights without prescribing for the duties we owe as citizens to our country.

Between 1922 and 1999 we have had 9 (Nine) Constitutions.

But remarkably while all of them make provisions for Rights of Citizens, it was in the 1989 Constitution that provisions were made for duties of citizens.

The 1989 Constitution provided for 10 (Ten) duties but these have now been harmonized into 6 (Six) duties in the 1999 Constitution that we now operate.

Perhaps because of this omission, (which I think is grave), we have looked at our country and nation with a sense of expectation of what we can get from her rather than what we can do for her.

It is therefore not unusual to feel a sense of disappointment which is expressed in statements like “what is Nigeria doing for me,” as against a sense of obligation that propels us to be driven by an urge and sense of duty to want to do our best for our country.

We have a saturation of Human Rights Defenders and organisations without Civic Duty advocates.

Rights do not exist in a vacuum.

This is perhaps why we expect messiah-like leaders, when indeed the youth and all of us are the leaders we are looking for.

This is a mindset that has set us back and it is a mindset that we must urgently get rid of like a bad habit.

It is a mindset that sees what is foreign and imported as better than what is Nigerian. It is a mindset that seeks answers in prayers, miracles and spiritualism. It is a mindset that credits and ascribes every little success that our hands achieve to the realm of miracles, religion and the unbelievable.

It is a mindset that avoids responsibility.

This is the mindset that “thanks God” when we build a house instead of the architects and builders; when our children do well in school we thank God instead of the teachers, when our sportsmen excel we thank God instead of the coaches.

It is a mindset that leads us to deny our reality and say we are “strong” even when we are visibly ill. If you doubt me, please listen to conversations in our country and in other countries, on our media platforms and those of other countries and see how many times we talk about God.

This is a mindset that abdicates responsibility and it is a slippery slope from which we must turn around and embrace our responsibilities especially our youth.

Some of the duties we owe our country and ourselves are set out in Section 24 of the Constitution of 1999, as amended, as follows:

It shall be the duty of every citizen to:

(A) abide by this Constitution, respect its ideals and its institutions, the National Flag, the National Anthem, the National Pledge, and legitimate authorities;

(B) help to enhance the power, prestige and good name of Nigeria, defend Nigeria and render such national service as may be required;

(C) respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate interests of others and live in unity and harmony and in the spirit of common brotherhood;

(D) make a positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress, and well-being of the community where he resides;

(E) render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order;

(F) declare his income honestly to appropriate and lawful agencies and pay his tax promptly.”

I cannot but wonder if this is the mindset that has made the taking of “selfies” with almost every available camera a most consuming and disturbing pastime when that same phone can be deployed for other productive and developmental uses.

It is a mindset that places self above others and it is unhelpful towards the task of nation-building.

It is probably the mindset that suggests to many to flee Nigeria when things are difficult. For everyone that chooses to leave please remember that there are people also applying to be citizens of Nigeria.

Indians, Cypriots, Greeks, Lebanese, Chinese and other nationalities have chosen Nigeria as the place to invest and raise families and this cycle that started around the 1950s has not stopped.

Every year there are applications made to the Nigerian Government for Nigerian citizenship.

The hard work, the ceaseless responsibility of nation-building which started in Nigeria since 1914 will fall on no other than her citizens especially its youthful population.

The soldiers who would defend her territory must be her strongest and by implication her most youthful.

The men and women who will build her infrastructure, move heavy equipment, that will turn ore to steel, break rocks, transport them, mix cement, lay the bricks cannot be her weakest but her strongest and therefore her most youthful citizens.

The teachers who will teach the next generation cannot be her oldest but her most enterprising and youthful ones.

The policemen and women, that will protect her citizens from criminal acts must be her strongest not her weakest, and must therefore be her youth.

The sportsmen who have and will continue to protect her global image and sporting prowess cannot be her weakest but her strongest and fittest, and therefore must be her youth.

Those who will be joined in matrimony to continue the act of procreation; to produce the next generation of Nigeria’s human capital will be those largely of childbearing age and therefore her youth.

Those who will farm the fields, work the tractors, the factories that process food will not be the aging, aged and infirm, but the youthful energetic and virile members of our citizenry.

The list is long, but these examples show the burden of responsibility for nation building that rests fairly on the shoulders of the young and youthful members of any community. It is their destiny to fulfil or betray.

I urge all of us in this club, in our offices, our local Governments, in our states and in our country to acknowledge and salute the efforts of those who have come before us.

No matter how much is now left to be done, let us acknowledge that those who came before us have started the journey.

If we do so, we will appreciate the value of their contribution to the work which we now have to do, because nation building is a never ending responsibility.

The actors change but the duties and the nation endures.

On this auspicious occasion of Ikoyi Club’s 81st anniversary, and on the eve of Nigeria’s 59th Independence Anniversary, I say once again Happy Anniversary.

God will bless Ikoyi Club and Nigeria, but it is the members of Ikoyi and Nigerian citizens, especially the youthful ones that will build Ikoyi Club and Nigeria.

Thank you for listening.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Honourable Minister of Works and Housing