Federal Ministry of Works

May

2026

LATEST PRESS

INFRASTRUCTURE REMAINS CRITICAL TO ECONOMIC GROWTH — PERMANENT SECRETARY TELLS INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE CONFERENCE 2026 IN ABUJA

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, has reaffirmed that infrastructure development remains the foundation of economic growth and sustainable national development, stressing that no nation can attain meaningful progress without substantial investment in critical infrastructure.

Speaking at the International Civil Service Conference 2026 held on Thursday in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary described infrastructure as a key driver of economic transformation, noting that the present administration has prioritised infrastructure and transportation as central pillars of national development.

According to him, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and South Africa have continued to achieve significant economic advancement through deliberate and sustained investments in roads, railways, power, and other essential infrastructure.

He explained that infrastructure plays a strategic role across all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, transportation, commerce, and oil and gas, by facilitating the movement of goods and services, enhancing productivity, attracting investments, and improving the quality of life of citizens.

Adeladan further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Works has adopted modern and resilient road construction technology known as Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP), in line with global best practices and in response to the growing impact of climate change on road infrastructure.

He noted that although CRCP roads require higher initial construction costs, they are more durable, environmentally sustainable, cost-effective over time, and capable of withstanding heavy traffic loads for up to 50 years with minimal maintenance.
The Permanent Secretary added that the adoption of concrete pavement technology promotes local content development through the utilisation of locally sourced materials and labour, thereby creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.

Addressing the challenges confronting infrastructure development in Nigeria, Adeladan identified inadequate funding as a major constraint, particularly given the enormous resources required to bridge the nation’s infrastructure deficit.

He explained that government alone cannot provide all the funding needed for infrastructure development, hence the increasing adoption of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and concession arrangements for major road projects nationwide.
He cited the Benin–Asaba Road and the Abuja–Keffi–Akwanga corridor as examples of projects already concessioned to ensure sustainable maintenance, improved efficiency, and enhanced service delivery.

The Permanent Secretary stressed the importance of designing infrastructure projects with clear developmental objectives, sustainability, climate resilience, and community needs in mind, noting that infrastructure investments must deliver tangible socio-economic benefits and long-term public value.

Also speaking at the conference, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Temitope Peter Fashedemi, underscored the importance of proper planning and climate-conscious infrastructure delivery to mitigate losses caused by flooding, erosion, and poor maintenance culture.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr. Emanso Umobong, advocated the integration of technology, smart city concepts, community participation, and human capital development in infrastructure planning and implementation.

In his remarks, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) emphasised that Nigeria’s huge infrastructure gap requires stronger private sector participation, noting that sustainable infrastructure financing can only be achieved through an enabling environment that guarantees investor confidence and reasonable returns on investment.

The conference brought together top government officials, policymakers, development experts, and other stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for strengthening infrastructure delivery and promoting sustainable national development through innovation, technology, and collaborative partnerships.

Mohammed A. Ahmed
Director, Information and Public Relations
21st May,2026

Jun

2020

FG Reiterates Commitment To Complete Ongoing Road Projects Minister of state Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar D.Aliyu FNSE has reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to complete all ongoing roads projects across the country The minister stated this over the weekend during his inspection tour of dualisation work of Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja Road Section 1: (International Airport Link Road junction-SHEDA Village junction. The project being handled by Mesrs Dantata and Sawoe is over 96% completed Engr Aliyu said, President Buhari had mandated his ministry to ensure delivery of all projects that are between 80% and 90% completion stage, hence his senior colleague minister Babatunde Fashola and himself are not leaving anything to chance in order to help Mr. President realise that dream. On the project, he said: "The project will be delivered very soon as it has reached 96 percent completion. " He explained that the purpose of the inspection tour of the Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja project was to have a first hand information and also interface with the contractor, project engineers and the technical officers of the project with a view to identifying grey areas and agree on the way forward that would ensure the timely delivery, which was supposed to be May 2020. The Executive Director of Dantata and Sawoe, Engr. Nasir Dantata explained that there was an addition of Service lane to be provided within the Gwagwalada metropolis and final asphalt laying of shoulders which he promised the Minister would be delivered as soon as all necessary approval and requirements are met. ...

Jun

2020

Private Sector Engagement In Highway Development, Management, Avenue To Mitigate Paucity Of Funds - Fashola Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has stated that private sector engagement in the development and management of roads is an avenue to mitigate paucity of funds which has hindered road development in the past. Fashola stated this in his presentation on Public Private Partnership (PPP) on Highway Development and Management Initiative to the joint National Assembly Committee on Works, Wednesday June 17th, 2020. He explained that Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) was created by his Ministry to manage and develop the federal road networks, with the objective to attract sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure and to maximize the use of assets along the right of way. " The rationale behind the private sector engagement under the HDMI would provide an avenue that would mitigate paucity of funds, which had hindered roads development in the past" he said. Ten (10) roads are to be concessioned under the first phase of the HDM initiative, namely: Benin – Asaba, Abuja – Lokoja, Kaduna – Kano, Onitsha – Owerri – Aba, Shagamu -Benin, Abuja -Keffi – Akwanga, Kano – Maiduguri, Lokoja – Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba. The total length of the federal road network is 35,000km, but the proposed project in the first phase will cover a total lenght of 2.275km. The project will attract a capital investment of N163.323bn at a cost of about N16bn per each of the 10 roads, in addition to about 23,322 jobs that would be created. Explaining further, the minister said investors are expected to provide streetlights, toll plazas, rest areas, and weighbridge stations. Accordingly, the Minister further explained that the HDMI was broken into two categories, namely: Value Added Concession(VAC) and unbundled Assets Approval (VAA). He added that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, (FMWH), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission,(ICRC), Bureau of Public Procurement, (BPP) and Special Purpose Vehicle Concessionaire were the defined stakeholders to provide the regulatory framework in the implementation. Earlier, Senator Adamu Aliero, Chairman Senate Committee on Works who co -chaired the Joint Session with Honourable Buba Abubakar, Chairman House Committee on works, stated that it was imperative to engage private sector partnership to tackle the bad roads in Nigeria as government alone could not bear the burden of fixing them. He said the Public Private partnership reduces the financial burden of government thereby allowing funds to be utilized in other relevant social economic sectors. Senator Aliero assured the Honourable Minister of the tacit support of the National Assembly and promised to provide legislation that will strengthen and protect the laudable investment initiative. Present at the presentation were the Minster of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Bukar, some Directors of the Ministry, and the Director General/CEO of Infraustructural Concession Regulatory Commission, Engr. Chidi Izuwah and and some other stakehokders. ...

Jun

2020

Works And Housing Minister, Fashola, Has Not Left Abuja Since March 22 The attention of the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has been drawn to a letter signed by the Chairman/CEO of Executive Jets Services Limited, Dr Sam Iwuajoku concerning a flight it operated to Abuja last weekend. For purposes of clarity and in order to set the records straight, the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has not travelled out of Abuja since March 22, 2020, when he returned there after an inspection tour of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway construction work and a visit to Lagos, before the lockdown. The decision of the Hon. Minister not to travel was taken in strict compliance with the Federal Government’s ban on inter-state travels as part of efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore ridiculous for Dr Iwuajoku to attempt to link the Hon. Minister with any noncompliant flight. ...