Federal Ministry of Works

Federal Ministry of Works (FMW)

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Welcome To Federal Ministry Of Works.

Minister Federal Ministry Of Works Engr. David Umahi.

Road Construction Inspection Tour.

Road Inspection.

Road Construction Inspection Tour.

Road Inspection.

Road Construction Inspection Tour.

Oct

2025

LATEST PRESS

Ministry Officials Pay Condolence Visit to Essan Community Over Lives Lost in Tanker Explosion
~ Promise Accelerated Palliative Works

The Federal Ministry of Works has extended its heartfelt condolences to the people of Essan Community in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State following the tragic tanker explosion that claimed several lives and caused extensive damage in the area.

The delegation, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate incident. The Director, Highways, North Central, delivered the Minister’s message. Salihu Kolapo Ahmed, during a visit to the community head, the Dekechi of Essan, Alhaji Muhammad Dauda Muhammad.

Engr. Umahi commiserated with the bereaved families and the entire community, describing the incident as a painful and avoidable tragedy. He assured the people that the Federal Government remains committed to improving the condition of the road network in the country to prevent similar accidents in the future.

> “The Federal Ministry of Works mourns with you at this difficult time. We pray for the peaceful repose of the departed souls and strength for the families they left behind,” Engr. Umahi conveyed through his representative.

“This sad event underscores the urgent need to accelerate, especially, the ongoing Reconstruction of the Lambata-Lapai-Agaie-Bida Road in Niger State. We are fully committed to ensuring safer and more reliable road infrastructure to avert future occurrences of such tragedies.”

Following the message, prayers were offered for the repose of the departed souls and divine comfort for the grieving families.

Responding, the Dekechi of Essan, Alhaji Muhammad, expressed deep appreciation to the Honourable Minister for his compassion and prompt response. He lamented the poor condition of the road linking the area, describing it as a “death trap” that has continued to endanger the lives of road users.

> “We thank the Honourable Minister for standing with us in our moment of grief. The bad state of the road has made movement extremely difficult and dangerous. We appeal to the Federal Government to give urgent attention to this route so that lives can be saved,” the community head said.

He called on the management of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to stop, forthwith, the overburdening of articulated vehicles with human beings, revealing that most of those who lost their lives in the inferno were such travelers not indigenes.

The Ministry reaffirmed its resolve to prioritise the reconstruction of the road as part of ongoing efforts to enhance road safety, ease transportation challenges, and support economic development in the State and Nigeria, in general.

“The Honourable Minister has directed that immediate assessments be carried out on the affected section with a view to implementing lasting engineering solutions that will improve safety and mobility,” Engr. Ahmed stressed.

The visit underscores the Ministry’s human-centered approach under the leadership of Engr. David Umahi, CON, remains focused on building durable road infrastructure and responding promptly to the needs and concerns of Nigerian communities affected by road-related tragedies.

Engr. Ahmed described the pace of work on the affected alignment as “too slow and unacceptable,” directing the contractor, Messrs CGC (Nig.) Ltd. to quickly deploy more resources and approach the work from more locations. “The contractor needs to mobilise more equipment to the site and let us have free movement of vehicles. Failure to do so, in the next few days, will attract decisive action,” he stated.

The Project Manager, Mr. Fan Bo, assured that the company would mobilise more equipment within days to intensify work and ease the movement of people, goods, and services on the critically failed portions of the road.

The Deputy Director, Construction at the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Development, Niger State, Engr. Nasir Ahmed, disclosed that the Minister’s directive was aimed at ensuring free vehicular movement and reducing frequent accidents along the busy corridor.
“This is a follow-up to the Niger State governor’s efforts. The Minister wants serious action so that there will be no more gridlocks or accidents on this road,” he added.

He urged motorists, especially truck drivers, to remain patient and cooperate with the contractors during the construction period.
“Their impatience causes a lot of the nuisances we see. They should be patient and follow instructions so that work can progress smoothly,” he advised.

The 124.8-kilometre project, awarded several years ago, was phased into two sections by the current administration, with Phase 1 covering 92 kilometres from Lambata to Agaei, valued at N39 billion, remaining 10 kilometres to completion, and Phase 2, which covers the most critical section from Agaei to Bida, is soon to be awarded.

Apr

2023

FG Poised To Commission Abuja Kano Expressway The Federal Government has given the assurance that section 2 and 3 of the Abuja - Kano expressway will be completed and commissioned by President Muhammad Buhari before the end of his tenure this year, May, 29th. 2023. This assurance was given by the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari who was taken on a press - inspection tour of the road by the Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN. The Chief of Staff who expressed satisfaction with the work done said, "Both section 2 and 3 will be completed and ready for commissioning by President Muhammad Buhari before the end of the tenure of his administration". He disclosed that another legacy project of the President, the 2nd Niger bridge will also be commissioned by the President before he leaves office. He recalled that the bridge had been opened for road users during the last Christmas season to ease the hardship that people had suffered for years now The COS praised the President for his outstanding and commendable commitment to infrastructural development across the country. "We want to commend Mr President for making the resources available so that this kind of progress can be made", he said. The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN explained that section 3 of the road which is from Kaduna to Kano is 137 kilometres, which is longer than the Lagos - Ibadan expressway which is 127 kilometres while section 2 of the road which stretches from Zaria to Kaduna is 73 kilometres. He added that though the Lagod - Ibadan expressway started earlier both projects are being completed around the same time. On why work on the section 1 of the road which is from Abuja from Zaria was not progressing like the other two, the Minister attributed the reasons to criminal activities which stalled the work for about a year in 2022, issues about right of way because of the need to relocate buildings, markets electricity installations, utilities all of which must be addressed before the contractor can do his job. He said that work on that section of the road was ongoing just as the required collaboration between the Ministry and the Federal Capital Territory Minster and the Governors of Niger and Kaduna states whose territories are connected to the 265 kilometres road is going on. Fashola gave the assurance that the section will be completed by the next administration as soon as possible as funding which is being provided by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is readily available. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr Aminu Umar Sadiq affirmed his organisation's commitment and readiness to provide the funding for the project. ...

Apr

2023

Road Completion: Nigerians Should Be Proud Of Loko Oweto Project- Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN affirmed that the “ Loko- Oweto bridge is 200 metres longer than the 2nd Niger Bridge , how many African countries are able to do this ? Nigerians should be very proud of this project”. He made this remark during the pre–inspection of the bridge for commissioning in Nasarawa State . Fashola further remarked “In January I was here to asses the level and progress of work so far done and at the end of March. I am here today when the contractors indicated that they have completed work and all our officers reported it as well , they deserve commendation from Nigerians for the job.” The Minister said “this is the bridge that crosses river Benue and links the North to the South , adding that “ the bridge will reduce travel time , it will reduce travel cost and greatly enhance the ease of doing business” Speaking further, Fashola said the report of this working visit to the site of the bridge would be sent to the Presidency where the date of the commissioning of the bridge would then be decided. While commenting on the Lagos – Ibadan road , the Minister appealed for continuous perseverance and understanding of all road users, as traffic had to be diverted during construction adding that the road is among the busiest in the country, he told journalists that the Lagos – Ibadan road would be completed in April of 2023 as planned , in addition , he also said that in May of 2023 the 2nd Niger bridge would be commissioned and opened to the traffic as well. The Federal Controller of Works Nasarawa State , Mr Idah Daikwo who accompanied the Minister on the inspection of the Loko Oweto bridge said “ the speed of completion and quality of works on the bridge is second to none , I commend the Honourable Minister for this laudable Legacy project” ...

Feb

2023

FG Completes and Hands Over Internal Road Project at Akanu Ibiam -Fed Poly …. School Filled with Excitement and Commendation The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has rehabilitated and handed over a 2-kilometre internal road to Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana Afikpo in Ebonyi State, to ease movement and make teaching and learning conducive for lecturers and students on campus. Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the rehabilitated road to the school management in Afikpor, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN revealed that the ministry had successfully intervened in 64 internal road projects in various federal tertiary institutions across the nation as at January 2023 and a total of 38 numbers still on going and at different stages of completion. Fashola who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works Ebonyi State, Engr. Steve Oluwadun said that the intervention work aimed at improving quality of education was gradually bridging the gap of our infrastructure needs in our tertiary institutions. ‘’ The gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the school”, he said. The Minister described the project as an investment in education and noted that over 46 of such internal road projects have been handed over in some other universities and tertiary institutions across the nation. “The quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedbacks from students in the schools where this type of intervention has taken place. He disclosed that during the reconstruction of the road at Akanu Ibiam Federal Ploy, 35 persons were employed, thus contributing to the job creation initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Fashola urged the institution's authorities to ensure proper use of the road, while embracing a proper maintenance culture. Earlier in his address, the Rector Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana Afikpo, Dr. Felix Attah, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and described the road intervention as laudable and commendable. The Rector added that it would ameliorate the suffering of staff and students, improve the quality of education, more so the learning environment. Represented by the Deputy Rector Academics, Dr. Ezichi Kalu also requested for more interventions on the deplorable roads in the campus and pledged to provide the needed co-operation and environment during such intervention works to accelerate the smooth movement of people as well as reduce accidents rate within the polytechnic community. During an interview session the Public Relations Officer of the Institute, Mrs. Samuel Nwamaka who was full of excitement thanked the Minister for considering the school among the beneficiaries of internal road infrastructure across tertiary institutions in the country. She noted that the road has given aesthetic value to the school and made trekking into the school less tasking. Delivering the Vote of Thanks, the Dean School of Environmental Design and Technology, Surveyor, Iduma Aka Ibiam expressed gladness over the road intervention project by the Federal Government, saying that the road construction has brightened and bloomed the school environment. He described the road intervention as a wonderful and brilliant intervention that gave the school a beautiful look. ...

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Jul

2024

OTHER NEWS

Feb

2020

We Will Deliver Roads That Will Stand The Test Of Time - Works Minister

Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr Abubakar Aliyu has said that the Federal government is committed to deliver qualitative roads that will stand the test of time for Nigerians to enjoy the long lasting benefit in the road usage.

Engr Aliyu spoke during the media inspection visit of the rehabilitation of Cham - Numan section of Gombe-Numan-Yola road over the weekend.

Responding to a question on the expected delivery time of the road, he said "We don't deliver roads because of politics, we deliver roads that will stand the test of time for Nigerians to enjoy the benefit for a long lasting time'.

The Minister explained that the section of the Cham-Numan road was delayed because of the 11 kilometers portion of the Savannah swamp area has bad/soft soil, which he said has to be evacuated, replaced and refill.

"We are seriously working on it and the procurement process has gone far and about to be completed. If we want to do politics with it, we would have rushed to complete it and it will later collapse, but we want to deliver a qualitative job for Nigerians" he said.

Aliyu also reiterated the commitment of President Muhamnadu Buhari to deliver the promises made to Nigerians on roads, adding that the administration is also showing strong determination to fulfil the promises in other sectors, such as housing, rails and others.

Butressing the committment of President Buhari on delivering roads, he revealed that the budget of his Ministry has risen to N200 billion from the N19 bilion they met it in 2015, pointing to the fact that the current administration has shown more committment to providing road infrastructure.

Touching on the other mandate of his ministry in providing affordable housing for Nigerians, the Ministry urged people to come in groups and form cooperative societies so that they patner with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria in order to get the houses they needed for themselves.

Earlier in his briefing to the minister on the rehabilitation of the Cham-Numan section of Gombe-Numan-Yola, the Federal Controller of Works, Engr Salihu Abubakar told the Minister that among the challenges delaying the work is the security problem of frequent farmers hardersmen clashes in the area

He explained that the contractor had carried out emergency repair works of critical failed sections of the road under the ember month of 2019 program of the Ministry

Egr Abubakar further stated that the contractor is presently on site working and the weather is favourable, adding that over 4,250 direct and indirect jobs have been created through the project

Speeches

Oct

2017

Remarks By Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN At The 20th Monthly Power Sector Operators Meeting Held In Owerri, Imo State

Once again it is my pleasure to chair this monthly meeting to review the progress we have made from our last monthly meeting in Lagos in September, and to collectively engage the challenges that lie ahead in our roadmap to incremental, stable and uninterrupted power.

At our meeting in September, we received reports of:
a.   The successful connection of power to Magboro, Ibafo and neighbouring communities in Ogun state who had not been connected for about 10 years.
b.   Provision of more meters to customers in Ijeshatedo, particularly on Ajijedidun Street, Adamolekun Street and Abiola Alao Streets where 196 out of 244 customers had been metered.
c.   We also got reports of the progress that has been made to restore power to 16 out of 36 communities in Ondo North (Akoko Communities) and the challenges in Okitipupa.

Another other piece of information that is worth sharing is the conviction of one Okechukwu Anoke by the Federal High Court Abakaliki and sentencing him to 3 years’ imprisonment for tampering with electricity fittings.

We welcome this judicial support to stop corruption in the power sector, enforce the law and promote liquidity in the sector. This comes on the heels of similar support from no less an office than that of the Chief Justice of Nigeria who has issued practice directions for the full enforcement of Arbitration clauses in power contracts so as to take such cases out of the tedium of regular trial and place them in the hands of commercially sensitive adjudicators.

On behalf of the entire sector we welcome the intervention in the Court of Appeal in the case involving the tariff review.

The order of the Trial Court which declared the tariff setting process illegal has been reversed and the case is now to be tried afresh.

Before I leave the issue of the critical role of the judiciary and law enforcement in the power sector, let me point out that the efficacy of the practice directions issued by the CJN for the strict enforcement of Arbitration clauses does not rest with the Judicial officers alone.

The Nigerian Bar Association has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that Arbitration clauses are enforced. This is because it is often the Lawyers, not the clients, that file and initiate processes that invoke the jurisdiction of the Court.

It seems to me that there might be something that potentially crosses the line of ethics which should arouse the interest of the Bar Association if one of its members fails to avail a client of his rights under an Arbitration agreement.

That said, I will proceed to inform members that in the last month, we have recovered 100MW from the damaged Afam IV Power Plant which was inoperative since January 2015.

Similarly, TCN has energized the Jebba-Kainji 2nd 330KV line and the 2nd Ajaokuta-Abuja 330KV line both of which were inoperative since 2015.

In the last month also, specifically on Wednesday 4th October 2017, the Federal Executive Council approved the verified sum of Federal Government MDA debts of N25.9Billion, and its payment by setting it off against the debts owed by the DisCos to NBET.

You will be receiving official communication of how these have been applied to reduce debts owed by DisCos to NBET.

We are also making promising progress in recovering debts due from international Customers and you will be notified of how much has been received when the appropriate accounts confirm that they have received value for the credits we have been notified of.

It is against this background that I now move to the challenges which we still have to overcome; the more pressing of which is how the DisCos can quickly increase their capacity to take power and distribute to the consumers.

I think that this is the issue that is captured in your letter of 27th September 2017 titled, ‘Federal Government of Nigeria’s Initiatives in the Electricity Sector and the Impact on Electricity Distribution Company Activities,’ which was addressed to NERC and copied to me.

Let me commend DisCos for the decision to channel their complaints to NERC by a jointly signed letter. This is a welcome departure from the previous order and it is to be encouraged.

The substance of Government initiatives which prompted that letter can be summarised as follows:

a.   Provision of meters to consumers through licensing of meter suppliers
b.   Provision of more power to consumers through licensing of eligible customers
c.   Provision of Independent dedicated Power to Universities
d.   Promotion of the deployment of more solar power through mini-grids
e.   Expansion of the Distribution Network of the DisCos so that they can take about additional 2,000 MW of power now available for supply

Without a doubt, the initiatives are targeted at improving service to the people. In your letter under reference copied to me, you expressed concerns about the impact of these initiatives on your businesses.

It is not my understanding that you oppose them, which is commendable.

It is my understanding that you fear that you will lose some income or some customers if Government proceeds; and on the question of meters, you seek to have technical compatibility with what the licencee will operate.

In respect of possible investment in Distribution equipment you seek that Government should route the investment through the DisCos.

Understandably you are concerned about investment recovery and in your views, the solution is a tariff review.

While your concerns about business viability, financial stability and cost recovery are well understood and indeed supported by the Electric Power Sector Perform Act of 2005 (EPSRA) which Government will respect; I must point out that Government’s focus is also strong on the issue of service to the people.

There must be a balance somewhere in the middle.

As far as the promotion of solar and other sources of independent power are concerned, please note that not only are they supported by the ESPRA, they are consistent with our Paris Climate Change Agreement Obligations and with emerging global practice.

DisCos have nothing to fear about solar. It is a space in which they are entitled to play but in which they cannot exclude others from playing.

The ESPRA did not contemplate a monopoly for any licensee unless it is expressly stated in the license.

As for channelling investment into Distribution assets through the DisCos, Government has not yet taken a position on what the best way forward will be.

However, Government is clear that a solution must be found quickly to the inability of DisCos to take about 2000 MW of power that will imminently increase as we get more incremental power.

But the point that must be made is for all of us to remember that, Government is a 40% shareholder of the DisCos (on behalf of the Federal, State, Local Governments and Workers) and therefore has a self-benefitting interest in the wellbeing and efficiency of the DisCos.

Most importantly, the concerns contained in the letter under reference can and will be managed through consultations which NERC has been undertaking to my knowledge. Consultations will help to build consensus about how best to serve customers, instead of festering gulfs of Disagreement.

At this preliminary stage therefore, you letter and concerns focus first on the business, while the Government initiatives focus more on service.

Consensus should give us both; the service and the business.

Still on the matter of DisCos, my attention has been brought to the fact that Yola DisCo has not been actively participating in the affairs of your association.

My position about your right and freedom to associate has been publicly stated and so is the right of the Government to associate or dissociate with you by lack of recognition or grant of recognition.

Because rights are not absolute and because they impose duties, all I need say is that we must respect the right of Yola DisCo to also choose whether it wants to associate or not. That is a duty we all have if we must enjoy the freedom and right to associate.

I will also want to report the successful holding of our National Council on Power, the 3rd in the series hosted by Plateau State who used the opportunity to present Rural Electrification Road Map to all of us.

I will like to thank Governor Simon Lalong for hosting us , and all of you for participating and urge that you follow up with the State Governments to assist you in enforcing the law against energy theft, right of way protection, metering of state government offices and buildings, the verification and prompt settlement of bills.

Finally, I would like to refocus our attention to the order signed by the NERC which reduced the timeline for making (New) Electricity connections from 145 days to 40 days.

While DisCos are also expected to comply and file reports of compliance to NERC and copied to my office, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has advised that the focal DisCos that will affect Nigeria’s ease of doing business rating will be Lagos, Ikeja, Kano and Kaduna because of the sample size that the population they serve represent.

Thank you for your attention.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing

Monday 9th October 2017