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.

Sep

2023

No Issues. One United Works Ministry. This is to bring to the attention and proper information of the general public that the Minister of Works H.E, Sen. (Engr) David Nweze Umahi CON was at no time locked up in his office nor denied access today, Thursday the 28th of Sept. 2023. The Hon Minister, in all fairness, had attempted to bring sanity and orderliness to the service by ensuring that services are rendered as at when due to grow the Nigerian economy to everyone's benefit. Therefore, to imbibe the spirit of discipline, daily Work activities in the Federal Ministry of Works now begins at 9a.m, Mondays to Fridays for all staff while the closing hour shall be 4p.m. The Ministry's Union Chairperson, Mr. Williams Kuti during a meeting with the Minister, Permanent Secretary and Management Staff opined that the Minister had started on a good note by identifying both the needs of Nigerians in the quest for good and durable roads and bridges had taken a personal inspection tour of most of the road infrastructure in the South West, South East, South-South and part of the North Central and North west geo political zones of the country, more so he has reached out to staff by means of personal welfare during the just celebrated Muslim festival. The Union Chairman alongside other staff during the meeting requested for more staff buses to ease their movement to and from their locations. In his address the Minister reminded them that we all have to work in unity to be able to deliver Nigeria our dear country from total collapse. The Minister recalled his several attempts at ensuring that things are done right and also that international best practices are respected by all Contractors in the construction of all Nigerian roads hence forth, by this, proper discipline, and respect of the rule of law and Contract agreement ,we can be sure to see roads that can last more than Seven (7) years but rather roads that will last up to fifty (50) years and that is when the Concrete Technology method of building our roads is put to use, this again the Minister assured will create more jobs for Nigerian Engineers, while increasing the use of local content which are in abundance in Nigeria rather than putting more pressure on the Nigerian Naira for the importation of bitumen and asphalt for road construction. The Honorable minister promised to go to other zones within the next three weeks and see first-hand the problems Nigerians are facing on the road. It was a fruitful meeting which ended with the Honorable Minister, being given three Gbosas for playing the role of a true Father to the staff. ...

Sep

2023

Happy Eid-El Maulud 1 I heartily convey my felicitations to the Muslim community across the nation on this year's festival of Eid-el- Maulud celebrated all over the world to mark the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) held this 27th September, 2023. 2. As you celebrate this memorable event, may the joy of the ceremony continue to strengthen our resolve to work for humanity and grant us the divine persuasion to bear the fruits of peace, honesty, generosity, self-discipline and sacrifice which are the virtues of Prophet Muhammad and the values of his teachings. At this moment of our trajectory, the power to overcome our challenges lies squarely on our will to cultivate the best leadership and followership attitudes as that will guarantee our hope in seeing the best even in difficult times. 3. The administration of our dear President, His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is on a decisive calculated mission to restore the dignity of our nation and this calls for sacrifice and best attitudes by all Nigerians no matter the language, faith or class. Be assured that the predicaments of the time will soon vanish and our dear country, Nigeria will soar again in the comity of nations. This is the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. 4. As we celebrate the birth of a virtuous Prophet, may God continue to bless your endeavours with resounding success. Please accept always the assurances of the esteemed regards and best wishes of my family, the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Works. Sen. Engr. David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE, CON, GGCEHF Hon. Minister of Works ...

Sep

2023

FG, COREN Collaborate To Develop Nigerian Roads The FG and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) have both met to discuss the way forward to develop Nigerian roads, the Minister of Works, H.E Sen. (Engr.) David Nweze Umahi CON represented the Ministry and presided over the meeting while the President and Chairman of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Engr. Prof Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, FNSE led the engineering team to the meeting, the deliberation was held at the Ministry of Works Headquarter in Mabushi, Abuja. The Minister in his remarks said “I want to involve COREN and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in our road construction. l have gone round three regions of Nigeria, I am very dissatisfied with the supervision of these construction works. It seems that it is only in the South West that there are very capable hands and hardworking Directors and controllers, notwithstanding, will put the same template to use in all the regions”. “We would like you to join us as COREN, there is no concrete road constructed in Ebonyi that has not lasted Seven years, our recommendation is that most of our highways are going to be a continuous reinforced highways, this is the vision of the Ministry” he added. Umahi further said “when growing up in engineering we use to have consultant, consultant would always know that if they compromised their certificate of practice will be withdrawn even at the ministry level, that is the kind of discipline we want to bring on our road infrastructure, there is no supervision in all our projects, like I said other than the South West. Henceforth every project is going to have one senior consultant later we can begin to have other junior ones, like surveyor, geotechnical and material engineers and other road engineers“. He enjoined COREN to join him in the propagation for the reintroduction of Concrete pavement in Nigeria. The Minister said that no road that was built in this country had lasted more than three to four years even in the Northern part of Nigeria, he said that the roads in the South East are collapsing even while still under construction. The design in the roads are mostly built below the flood plain and the rains comes, and they are washed away, in his words, the Minister said he counted 9 locations that have collapsed. The President of COREN in his reaction said “having listened to you carefully COREN and NSE will key into these new positions that you have mentioned, the lack of supervision you talked about, will be addressed, and we believe that needs to change totally, we will be able to give our own contribution in that respect”. He said “COREN has been restructured, we now have, six Regional offices, with Lagos as a special Region, and then the thirty six state offices with desk offices with seven departments, these will play key roles in this supervision, we have developed a protocol to engage our members. l believe we are going to play a positive role when we develop modalities on how this will be worked out“. “ln the aspect of seven professionals per project we are going to look at that and also contribute, the introduction of reinforced concrete, there is a ministerial committee with this ministry which have been working on the specification. l am the chairman of that committee with senior expert along with the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FERMA and others in the next one month we will make the submission and interim report to you, that should be the first point of engagement which will expand the horizon for us to this new agenda of concrete road pavement” he said. ...

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Nov

2025

OTHER NEWS

May

2018

Up Your Game, Zarma Urges Indigenous Contractors

- Osun Government Commends FG on Massive Infrastructure Delivery

Minister of State 11, Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan Zarma has urged indigenous contractors handling Federal Government projects to “up their game” by improving on their pace of work in order to deliver their projects on schedule.He said Government has much confidence on indigenous contractors and disclosed that the present administration is determined to encourage and promote indigenous contractors.

The Minister who is on inspection of the Ministry’s projects to the South-West Zone, however expressed displeasure at the slow pace of work at the the 27.6Km Oshogbo- Ilesha Road, Section 1 handled by Messers Horizon Construction Limited. He said it was appalling for a 27Km road Rehabilitation project awarded since 2010 to exceed its completion date by 104 per cent in 2018. He asked “if it takes you 8 years to rehabilitate a road, how many years will it take you to build one”.

Zarma challenged the contractor to prove his capacity to deliver the job and stop giving excuses for the delay. He said, ‘government gave you the job with the assurance that you can deliver, you asked for extension after a long delay, your request is not approved, you have to mobilize every resource to meet up the extended October 2018 completion date”.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been highly commended for the massive execution and monitoring of its infrastructure projects across the nation particularly on roads, housing and power. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Minister to the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who was represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Grace Titilayo Tomori, said the Minister’s inspection of on-going projects in the state and across the nation laid credence to the commitment of the present administration to deliver basic infrastructure to the people. She said, “your visit to the state has confirmed the seriousness the federal government attaches to road construction in the state and the nation at large”. She further applauded the Minister for undertaking the tour by road to see things for himself and ensured that the contractors are working.

The deputy governor disclosed that the state was also complimenting the federal government effort by constructing over a 1000km of roads across the state. According to her, the state governor was well known to be a “ constructor of roads”.

Briefing the Minister at the Oshogbo- Ilesha road inspection, the Federal Controller, Works, Engr Omorekpe Njoku said, that the contract was awarded in 2010 at a contract sum of .N2.69b but was later reviewed to N2.88b to accommodate the drainage works on the road. He affirmed that the contractor is indeed slow in delivery on the project.

The Contractor, Messers Horizon Construction however explained that the reason for the prolonged delay in the completion of the project was due to the non budgetary appropriation for the project by past administrations for about three years leading them to stop work at a time. He however commended the present administration for including the project in its appropriation since last year and promised to mobilize fully to meet the completion deadline.