Federal Ministry of Works

Mar

2026

LATEST PRESS

UMAHI DECLARES AN END TO YEARS OF DEADLY TRAPS AND GRIDLOCK ON THE ENUGU–ONITSHA EXPRESSWAY, SETS MARCH 31 DEADLINE FOR REOPENING

The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON has declared that the long-troubled Enugu–Onitsha Expressway is fast shedding its grim past, as the Federal Government intensifies a sweeping infrastructure upgrade across the South-East under the President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Umahi made the declaration on Monday, March 23, 2026, during an inspection of ongoing projects in Enugu, including the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway and the Eke-Obinagu Flyover, where he expressed confidence that the era of consistent fatal accidents, endless traffic, and public frustration along the road is coming to an end.

“I’m going round the six geopolitical zones assessing what is possibly to be commissioned before May 29th by Mr President. There are mega project that the President will be available for before May 29th and we mean it,” the Minister said.

Once regarded as one of the most dangerous highways in the region, the Enugu–Onitsha road had for years been plagued by tanker explosions, loss of lives, and economic disruptions. But Umahi said decisive intervention by the Tinubu administration has changed the trajectory.

“Now this route, the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, you recall that when we came on board, everyday, people were talking about this road. There were a lot of tanker accidents, a lot of people died and so forth. But my joy is that the whole thing is a past story, because the President has swinged into action,” he stated.

The Minister disclosed that the dual carriageway, which spans 107 kilometres on each side, is undergoing a major structural shift, with a significant portion being converted from asphalt to concrete to ensure durability.

“It is not only that we are repairing this road… about half of it is going on to be concrete. I have no confidence in asphalt I continue to say it. By the time the asphalt fail we will have 50 percent of the road still intact and if it fails within the second tenure of the president then be rest assured that we will fix it,” he said.

He added that the same approach is being extended to sections in Anambra State, including the head bridge axis, where an initial asphalt design is being replaced with concrete pavement to align with modern highway standards.

“At the head Bridge we have 39k, we’re changing that to concrete so that we can have this coastal road type of road pavement there in Anambra and here in Enugu,”.

Beyond reconstruction, the project is also being enhanced with solar-powered street lighting and environmental features aimed at improving safety and sustainability.

“So that is going to happen but then not only that. We are putting solar light both for the one that was constructed before us and the one that is being done by us. Within the first one week we will have solar light up to this 1km and we continue we are also going to plant trees which is very important,” he added.

The Minister urged the people of the South-East to recognise the level of federal intervention in the region, noting that such attention to infrastructure was previously lacking.

“The people of South East have to be very grateful to Mr President. The reason is that we never had it like this. I was governor for 8 years and I can’t think of any Federal road project in Ebonyi State,” he said.

He also cautioned against divisive narratives, warning that some actors were misleading the public for selfish interests.

“I want to ask our people to be very very careful, there are people that pretend that they are helping us but they actually inciting us against government… we need to know when people are genuinely interested in our case,” he said.

Calling for sustained support for President Tinubu, Umahi described the ongoing works as part of a broader effort to correct past neglect and integrate the South-East more fully into national development.

“Let us allow this man that have started to right the wrong metted on us as the people of Southeast in the past. Let us allow him the next four years and we will be very much fully integrated,” he stated, adding, “To know the revolution that is going on in infrastructure… this is the Biafra we are looking for.”

As a major milestone, the Minister directed that the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway be reopened for public use on or before March 31.

“I have given the controller the authority, by the 31st or before, he should call the press to open this road, call the people of South East… let them know that this road is open for travel and that will be our Easter celebration,”.

Addressing concerns over project costs, Umahi clarified that the Ministry of Works does not unilaterally determine project pricing, noting that approvals pass through multiple regulatory layers, including the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council.

“I’m not the final authority when it comes to the cost of a project, there are layers of approval, the Bureau of Public Procurement, their own stands and not my own,” he explained.

He maintained that the standard being applied to the Enugu–Onitsha project is consistent with major road projects across the country.

“The same road architecture as the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway… so no discrimination with the president, everybody is the same,” Umahi said.

Feb

2021

Your Road Intervention First in Four Decades - Rector told Mr. Fashola The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Surveyor, Dr Abdullahi Alhassan said that the 2 km road intervention executed in his Institution by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing was first of its kind in the history of the Polytechnic since its establishment in 1983. "Today, we are receiving very important dignitaries from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, who are here to commission a 2 km road project executed by the Federal Ministry of Works, which of course, is the first of its kind in the life history of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, since its establishment in 1983," he said. Surveyor, Dr Ahmed stated this on Thursday 18th February, 2021 during the formal commissioning and taking over of the 2-km internal road project reconstructed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. " I must confess to you that the Federal government has rescued our Polytechnic from so many challenges with this construction of 2 kilometers road" he added. Surveyor Ahmed also expressed joy for the construction of the roads and drainages which had been a major challenge to the Institution over the years. In their separate reactions, Director Academic Planning, Dr. Yahaya Bello and Dean of Students Affairs, Jacob Olotu both expressed appreciation to Federal Government and Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola for coming to the aid of the Institution with the project which they said would continue to be remembered in the Polytechnic for a long time to come. The Student Union President (SUG), Comrade Adamu Jamilu described the road Intervention in the Polytechnic as a great relief to both students and staff in terms of access and cost of transportation to the Institution. The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN was represented at the handover of the road to the Polytechnic by the Federal Controller of Works Nasarawa State, Engr. Isaac Daikwo. He explained that the road Intervention in the school had contributed in the job creation initiative of the Federal government as over forty people were employed in the course of the work. ...

Feb

2021

FG Committed to Bridging Infrastructure Gap in Schools - Fashola The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has restated the commitment of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to bridging the infrastructural gap in tertiary institutions across the country. Speaking at the handover ceremony of the 1 kilometer road constructed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozala in Enugu State, the Minister said that the gap of the nation’s infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs and construction and it has reached the tertiary institutions. Fashola who was represented by the Controller of Works, Enugu State, Engr. Olufemi Oyekanmi explained that the intervention by the Federal Government in the development of infrastructure in the tertiary institutions was to boost quality of education and give students a renewed hope and enthusiasm with regards to attending classes because some defective roads have been restored to motorability. He said: “It is undebatable that 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 feedbacks from the students of the schools where this type of intervention has taken place.” Accordingly, the Minister noted that the 1.0 kilometer road network constructed in the teaching hospital was a laudable project as it would ease movement of both students and staff of the institute within the hospital. Fashola said: “Though the road might be a civil work project, it is an investment in education and the students are expressing renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes because some defective roads have been restored to good condition.” The Minister noted that, the project, apart from impacting on the learning environment, has also provided employment opportunities for Nigerians as 40 people were employed in the process contributing to the job creation initiatives of the government. Earlier In her remark, the Chief Medical Director/Chief Executive, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Dr. Obinna Onodugo commended the Federal government for the road intervention, saying that it was a good fortune for the institution to be benefitted from the intervention because the government had so many road interventions to attend to across the nation. ‘‘For this to happen in the institution is highly commendable”, he said. He described the road before the intervention as deplorable, pointing out that the road was a death trap before the intervention which no one dare to use at night because of its deplorable condition but now the reverse is the case. “ As a community we are grateful to be remembered by the Federal Government. Personally, I am very grateful that this is happening in my time and I pray for more of such intervention,” he said. ...

Feb

2021

Oko Poly Commends FG for 1.23km Roads Intervention The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra State, Dr Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo has commended the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola for the 1.23 kilometer roads constructed in the permanent site of the Federal Polytechnic Oko. The Rector stated that the project would impact the quality of education and the learning environment at the institution. The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is constructing internal roads in 43 tertiary institutions in Nigeria under it's Road Intervention Program. Fashola was represented at the commissioning and handover of the completed road to Oko Federal Polytechnic by the Project Supervisor of Second Niger Bridge, Engr Oluwaseyi Martins, who represented the Hon. Minister. The Minister said, "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" Fashola explained that to date twenty-one (29) road intervention projects have been completed with seventeen (17) already handed over in 2020, describing the Oko Poly internal road being handing over today as a critical intervention to support education. According to the Minister, twenty-five Nigerians were employed during the construction of the road with several other artisans and traders earning income at the site of the construction. This he said, contributed to the job creation initiatives of the Federal Government. Fashola enjoined the school to ensure putting the asset in to proper use and not to be abused. The Rector who thanked the Minister and the Federal government for the completed project, requested for more infrastructural development in the School in order to open up the other side of the undeveloped lands within the campus. She said, “Though there was no follow up from the School on the road contract yet the scope of work was covered and they did not cut corners or used shoddy materials for the construction, the project was completed on point schedule the challenges of Covid 19 pandemic” Anambra State Commissoner of Works Engr Marcel Ifejiofor represented by Engr Dr Ikedi Eze observed that the standard and quality of the roads and drainage were of good standard. The Director Medical Services of the Oko Federal Polytechnic, Dr Ifeoma Monago said ‘The road is a very standard one, we are very happy with the Federal Government for remembering us and building these wonderful roads in this institution. The roads are the best we have so far in this school, we appreciate government and the effort of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing”. The Executive Director of Sagez Nigeria Limited, Mr Adeyinka Amosun on behalf of the contractor said ‘The road was constructed in line with the Bill of Engineering Measurements and Evaluation (BEME) and met all standards of civil engineering in road construction’ In his reaction, Eduzor Chiamaka Favour, a National Diploma student of Home and Rural Economics said, “I have never seen a road like this standard in my entire life, so beautifully designed with bright colours. Okoli Cyril, a student of Science Laboratory Technology said “ I am happy to see this type of roads in my school, since I was admitted in 2018 nothing like this ‘’ ...