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.

Aug

2025

SPORTS MEETS SERVICE: D’TIGRESS STAR EJIOFOR SALUTES LEADERSHIP Nigerian basketball star Blessing Ejiofor of the national women’s team, D’Tigress, paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. (Engr.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, and the Honourable Minister of State, Barr. Bello M. Goronyo at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja. She was presented to the leadership of the Ministry by the Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mal. Shehu Dikko. During the visit, Ejiofor presented Engr. Umahi with a customized basketball jersey, praised his exemplary leadership and commitment to national service. She noted that her gesture symbolised the shared values of teamwork, discipline, and dedication that drive both sports and governance. In response, Engr. Umahi congratulated the athlete on her outstanding achievements, applauding her dedication to the sport and her impressive representation of Nigeria on the international stage. He further expressed pride in her role as an ambassador of Ebonyi State and Nigeria, commending her for elevating the nation’s image through her sportsmanship. The Honourable Minister of State, Barr. Goronyo also expressed admiration for her discipline and resilience, describing her as a shining example of how sports can contribute to national development. Born on September 2, 1998, in Ebonyi State, Blessing Ejiofor is a centre player for Nigeria’s D’Tigress with an impressive track record in international basketball. She honed her skills at Vanderbilt University, Chipola College, and West Virginia University, where she earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors. Her professional career includes stints with clubs in Spain and France, and she represented Nigeria at the 2024 Women’s Olympic Basketball Tournament in Paris. A key figure in D’Tigress’ fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025, Ejiofor has helped cement Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s basketball. Off the court, she empowers youth through her nonprofit, The Muna Foundation. Mohammed Abdullahi Ahmed Director of Press and Public Relations ...

Aug

2025

IMMEDIATE WORKS ON EMERGENCY PROJECTS UNDERWAY AS PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS ACTION ON REHABILITATION OF HIGHWAYS/BRIDGES ON THE VERGE OF IMMINENT DETERIORATION. - 3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE CLOSED AGAINST HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES FOR STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE. In the efforts of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to expand and modernize road infrastructure to enhance sustainable economic growth, action is being taken to ensure immediate intervention on some of the inherited ongoing highways and bridge projects across the 6 Geo-Political Zones that are on the verge of imminent deterioration. The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON made this disclosure during a press briefing held at the Honourable Minister’s conference hall, Mabushi - Abuja, on 6th August 2025. Flanked by the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunsho Olusesan Adebiyi, the Honourable Minister gave a detailed insight into the conditions of the road and bridge projects being handled on emergency basis, noting that the President had directed immediate action to address critical sections of the Highways and Bridge projects that require emergency intervention and this neccessited the decision of the Federal Ministry of Works to articulate the conditions of such bridges and roads that are in dire need of repairs, some of which are currently being procured while work is in progress in some others. In the South West, he listed 3rd Mainland bridge, Carter bridge, Iddo bridge, Lagos-Ibadan bridges, Lagos – Badagry road, Ibadan – Ilesa, Ilesa – Akure-Benin, Ibadan – Oyo, Oyo – Ogbomoso –Ilorin roads as projects that needed emergency intervention. He said, “Among other emergency jobs that you’ve been seeing in Lagos, we are having a very deep conversation on the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge. And it's a very deep and concerned conversation. And we have tabled it to the Federal Executive Council and the Chairman in Council, Mr. President, directed that the Ministry should articulate the exact situation and bring it to the Federal Executive Council for deliberation. So we won't be able to say much on that until we have done that exercise as directed by the Federal Executive Council, and we'll let you know. But be assured that the Third Mainland Bridge is safe for light vehicles, but not for heavy vehicles. We have closed it against heavy vehicles, and the Carter Bridge also has issues that Mr. President is going to address as soon as our memo is completed. We also have a problem with the heavy trucks that are loading beyond our headrooms in our flyovers. We have a couple of them between Lagos and Ibadan Bridges completed in the last administration. Some of them have been knocked down. The beams are knocked down, and the beams are the structural elements that carry the slab that are carrying the vehicular loads. And so where the beam is not there, it means that it's not safe. So, for some of such bridges, we have closed down against vehicular movements. And we are very concerned. The Iddo Odo bridge was burned down during the past administration. So we are on it. It’s an ongoing project through Julius Berger.” In the North East, he said, “We have a couple of projects that have been sent to us by the NSA today. In Bauchi, we have repair works between chainage 25 and chainage 26. That's Azare. That is procured. We have about four washouts in that Azare. That is on the long stretch of Kano to Maiduguri, which has five sections. Section one is terminated from Dantata and Sawoe, 100.9 kilometres. And so it's been re-awarded to the Triacta. Funding will be a challenge, but work is ongoing. We have section five, which is at Maiduguri, handled by CCECC. Work is ongoing. We have been assisting them with SUKUK. And I'm sure that we're going to find a new source of funds. But the first section that has been washed out between Bauchi and Jigawa has already been procured. We called the Triacta, which is very close there. He's going to put multiple culverts and raise the road above the flood level, a minimum of one metre above the carriageway, and put some retaining walls so that we'll be safe there. Unfortunately, the rain has come, but I commend the President who has released some funds to tackle this. That's about four locations. In Gombe, we have Triacta that is working and has been there. And we also encouraged Triacta with some SUKUK funding and some budgetary provisions. And we're doing quite a lot of work between Gombe and Bauchi roads. So, work is ongoing. And we've almost finalised the fourth legacy project of Mr. President, which is 439 kilometres by six lanes. It was done before, designed on asphalt. But now the President directed that for durability and conformity with other legacy projects, we should do it on concrete. That project is taking off from Akwanga to Jos to Gombe. We're also doing the road from Gombe to Bauchi.” In the North West, he said that actions were being taken to ensure that an intervention be made to the Kebbe bridge in Sokoto State and other major projects that needed emergency intervention including the NNPC projects within the zone. “In North West, we have the Kebbe Bridge in Sokoto State. So we've also directed that work should commence. So what we have told you are the emergency projects that you may be coming across in social media, and to clarify that Mr. President has directed immediate action in all the locations because the chain is as strong as the weakest link. If any section of this road or bridges gets cut, then the movement is impaired. So you won't be able to move from one point to the other.” In North Central, he said, “We have the Keffi Bridge, the flyover that was knocked, and three people were killed by overboarding vehicle. We have settled with the families of the persons that were killed and that’s through the man that did the killings. We have visited there, and we've seen what the problem is to rectify it. Work is already ongoing. We procured CGC under emergency condition, since they are working at FCT so that they can start. It will involve the replacement of the beam that is knocked down. It will involve the chiseling out of the shoulder and part of the carriageway. It will involve replacement, and then to do integrity tests on the remaining beams that were damaged, and then the bridge will be restored. On Katsina-Ala road, we just got approval from Mr. President yesterday to re-scope the project, review the project, and have it completely executed. I was a very happy person because that's been giving us a lot of concern. And we'll try with the little resources to do palliative on that project.” In the South East, he stated, “The most important route in South East is the Enugu - Onitsha road, and that was awarded by the past administration, 108 kilometres by 2, and it was awarded for N202 billion to MTN under Tax Credit. But at the time we came on board, they had exhausted only N50 billion, and so we had to descope the project. And so we took out 72 kilometres of the project and awarded it to SKCC for N150 billion. Work is ongoing there. And so what we have done is to direct on emergency basis for SKCC and MTN to move immediately to the sections of the roads that are very bad, and within the scope of their work, do palliative, so that no section of that road will be unmotorable from Enugu down to Onitsha.” He urged the people of South East to double their support for the re-election of President Tinubu, noting that he has demonstrated enough goodwill to Ndigbo through many infrastructural investments of Federal Government in South East. In South South, he noted a number of roads that would be done through PPP and those for emergency intervention, including Benin – Asaba road. He said, “We have the 1st Niger Bridge to the summit junction. That is about 11.5 kilometres by two. We have China Harbour and the Atland on that project, 225 kilometres from Benin to Asaba, but not connecting the summit junction to the bridge. And so on that PPP, we gave it to African Plus, and so they're doing it on PPP. They have started work, but the other section, 11.5 by two, China Harbour, felt that it's small for them, so we have, on that emergency, given it to Atland. And the President has also released some money to start the project.” He noted that under the NNPCL projects, the North has 53% of that project, and the south has 47% of that project and which was not fairly distributed, because a place like South East has only 4%, and South West only 5%. But that notwithstanding, Mr. President decided to continue with the entire project. He described the trending video decrying the collapse of shoulders of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway as an orchestration of uninformed critics who darken counsel without knowledge. He placed on record that the section being referred to is still work in progress noting that the crack was not a structural failure but a normal occurrence that happened on a sand- filled section of the shoulder (not the carriageway) because of rains. He said. “Absolutely, it's not an issue at all. That section has not been completed. Section 1 is 47.47 kilometres by 6 lanes. And so you have the main carriageway, you have the shoulder. And so where you notice the crack is the sand-filled section of the shoulder, not carriageway, with stone base, where we are not presently working on. Because to work on the shoulder, we have to bury the cable ducts. We also have to put underground drainage. People even say there is no drainage there. That thing is not a structural failure at all. Whether it is a stone base you are using, or sand, or laterite, it is bound to happen. The moment water is pounding on it, it has to erode. But you can go from Ahmadu Bello, where we have completed, and you find out whether you find such a thing, because we have closed every aspect of the sand-filled or stone base filled areas.” In their separate remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Works and the Permanent Secretary charged the journalists to continue to uphold the tenets of journalism in their reportage, which are accuracy, objectivity and patriotism, noting that the Renewed Hope administration has made profound marks in its agenda of returning the country to the part of sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works ...

Aug

2025

*PRESIDENT TINUBU TREATING THE SOUTH EAST REGION WITH FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN ROAD AND BRIDGE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT* My attention as the Honourable Minister of Works has been drawn to a wrong and misleading statement on social media by one Mr Linus Anagboso (D-Big Pen) captioned: *“The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South-East missing from the map?”* I understand that politics is now in the air, and some people's chosen path is to deceive gullible members of the public, look good before their people as one fighting for them, and close both eyes, pretentiously, over the great and selfless infrastructure development Mr. President is doing all over the nation. I have directed all Ministry of Works’ Zonal Directors back to sites in all the six (6) geopolitical zones across the country to compile all inherited but ongoing projects and all new ones, so that Nigerians will appreciate the tremendous works that Mr. President is doing in all the regions, irrespective of those that voted for him and those that did not. Mr President is using fair distribution of infrastructure to reunite Nigerians and renew their hope and only those who open their eyes will see the light of change in Nigeria. In addressing specifically this misleading information and for the record, Mr. President has four (4) Legacy Projects, and they cover the six geopolitical zones with the South East zone well captured within the Third Legacy project spanning Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-FCT, totalling 465km x 2 with South East covering 231.64km x 2 and 231.64km x 1 for ₦445.8 billion, already awarded and work going on. Mr President has already paid ₦108 billion. What happened in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 31st July 2025 was a review of that corridor from 118kmx 1 to 231.64km x 1 for ₦445.8 billion. This misleading writer chose to change the narrative of my Press Briefing, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on the Trans Sahara Section 1 (Ebonyi State to Benue State border) – 123.64km at ₦445.8 billion, and, deliberately, chose to call it OYO-BENUE BORDER ROAD to deceive and incite Nigerians. I demand that he correct the information, immediately, even if he fails to apologise. Where was the writer when President Tinubu, GCFR decided to treat the South East fairly in road infrastructure like other zones? Under his administration, 90% of abandoned projects, some awarded as far back as 2013 were all revived and all are now ongoing. Where is the appreciation for huge ongoing works on the 2nd Niger Bridge Access Roads, 2A, in Delta State, which is valued at ₦146 Billion and 2B, in Anambra State, which is valued at ₦176 Billion, the Enugu-Onitsha Road -208km ( MTN Tax Credit, which is valued at ₦ 202 Billion, and CBC (Nig.) Limited completing the remaining section at ₦150 Billion of which ₦45Billion was released last week), Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway in four (4) sections, Enugu-Abakaliki, Afikpo-Abia-Imo, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, Umuahia to Ikot Ekpene roads etc. I request the South East people to rise in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR because he has demonstrated love and fairness to the people of the zone. We must not be deceived again. Mr. President must have the votes of the South East up to 90% to cement this relationship. Enough of darkening council without knowledge in the South East. We must rise to educate our people. If we want to be President, we must avoid the politics of hate, misinformation, and sentiments. We must support other zones and with God, one day others will support us. Mr President must be supported to complete his tenure of 8 years, which all regions are benefiting from. One day we will be number one but not in 2027. I will vocally continue to stand against any mischief to deceive our people. We are known for hard work and love not hate. I commend our Leaders, the South Eastern Governors, for their support and the great works they are doing for our people. I urge our people to please support them, along with our dear President, for a second tenure in their respective offices. NEVER AGAIN SHALL WE BE DECEIVED! Signed: *SENATOR (ENGINEER) DAVID NWEZE UMAHI, CON, FNSE, FNATE,* *HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WORKS.* ...

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Nov

2025

OTHER NEWS

Jun

2022

BRF: The Omoluabi Eko At 59

By Hakeem Bello

"What will protect all of us when all is said and done is law and order."
If there is a quiz to guess which Nigerian public servant said the above, chances are most will answer: Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF).

Yes, of course. The quintessential lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is not just a champion of Infrastructure development and deep thinker, he is a stickler for law and order.
He is 59 today.

Quite perceptively and against the run of high public expectation, BRF decided to remain president of his home rather than joining the initially crowded train for the Presidency of the country. But without a doubt, his confidence in, devotion and commitment to the development of Nigeria remains ever unwavering.

Indeed, BRF has become a brand name for efficiency, effectiveness, diligence, commitment and tenacity of purpose. The name will continue to resonate long after he leaves public office and whenever and wherever there is a need for devotion to duty, progressive idealism and commitment to Law and Order.

Probably because of his desire to serve away from the mainstream leadership - which agrees perfectly with his often-stated philosophy of commitment to service to one’s fatherland even “without a title or an office" - his engagements with the public will continue to revolve around the preoccupation with the attainment of a better society, governed by law and order, for all.

Just as Gabfest, a youth-focused conversation platform created in 2016 to commemorate BRF's birthday. This year's edition will explore the theme, “Why am I Voting?”

This topic which agrees significantly with the mood of the nation, currently undergoing the processes leading to the 2023 General Elections, will seek to examine the motivations of a cross-section of Nigerians behind their electoral choices.
During Gabfest 6, carefully selected panelists will interrogate their personal desires and expectations in relation to the Nigerian elections. Is their focus on transparency? Is it on better power or healthcare? Is potable water their challenge? Do they intend to vote across party, gender or ethnic lines? Have they voted in the past and for what position? These are just some examples of the questions that will hopefully yield a robust and lively discussion.
Having addressed such testy questions as, “Restructuring for a Better Life – Lessons from Brexit” and “What can the President Do for me?” in previous public lectures, you can trust Mr Fashola for encouraging a discourse on such a simple yet challenging question as “Why am I Voting?”

Perhaps as a prelude to this and a proof of his avowed commitment to the essence of performing basic civic obligations and maintaining order to keep society functioning optimally, Fashola in a virtual presentation he made recently at a symposium in Lagos with the theme, “Driving and the Nigerian in You” interrogated the nexus between individual conduct and public well-being.

In the presentation, he sought to graphically illustrate that it is neither solely the failure on the part of government nor lack of good roads that cause traffic jams or road mishaps on the nation’s highways and intra-city roads but the non-compliance to Law and Order by some members of the public including even the supposed law enforcers in some instances.

According to him, “We are converting what we built for traffic movement into other uses. It is totally against traffic and all other kinds of laws. So, I still say that traders cannot trade on our streets, buses cannot park on the sidewalks. Pedestrians must leave the roads. They must remain on the sidewalks that separate pedestrians from motorists. If these things happen, we will leave the stress, the tensions, accidents and the deaths that we experience as a result of those anomalies.”

The point must, perhaps, be made here that in advocating the adherence to Law and Order by the citizens, BRF has not in any way tried to shield the elite and the leadership from the guilt of infractions of law and order in their duties.

As a matter of fact, there are very many occasions when in his tour of duties as Governor or Minister, he had personally enforced the law, especially traffic laws, on government officials including high ranking police and army officers.

But he, however, maintains that it is incumbent on all citizens to insist on the compliance to Law and Order whenever their rights are being infringed upon by political office holders and those in positions of leadership.
And to prove his earlier assertion that 87 percent of road crashes in the country are caused by human factor, he showed an abridged version of the 2021-April 2022 monthly reports of road crashes across the country by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) saying the situation had been so since he had been Minister.

“What I have done is to separate those items which are human causative factors of road crashes and I have come up with 19 of such factors. I listed 13 of these factors which cause up to 87 percent of road crashes. And I say if these are eliminated, we would have eliminated by 87 percent the cause of road crashes,” he said.

Fashola, who cautioned against indiscriminate donation of motorcycles and tricycles to illiterate youths by politicians and elites in society in what they refer to as “Empowerment”, added, “We see a lot of motorcycles now inflicting pains on our lives. But who are the biggest donors of this Korope and Maruwa (Tricycles)? …Politicians, government officials and the elite; they call it empowerment...”

Saying all Nigerians have a role to play in bringing about law and order in the country, the Minister recalled an incident in Lagos, when he was State governor, when a citizen, Lanre Adio, insisted on his right of way to Lagos Mainland when a convoy of buses driving against traffic tried to force him out of the way, thereby causing a serious traffic jam on the Third Mainland Bridge.

“I had finished my work in Alausa one day and we were heading to the Island on Third Mainland Bridge. Normally at that time on a normal day, traffic would be light on the Island-bound traffic from Alausa. But this night the traffic was heavy. And as we inched towards it, I had to send some of our security details to go and see what was happening; and you can bet or imagine what happened,” the Minister narrated.

“Citizen Adio was driving with his daughter on the Mainland-bound side heading for the Oworonsoki end of the road. They were on their right side of the traffic and they were heading home when a long convoy of vehicles, including a public transporter who was driving against traffic was asking those who had the right of way to leave. Many left, but Citizen Adio was scandalised so he refused to leave.”

Fashola said in his presentation that despite invectives thrown at him by passengers in the offending bus, the man stood his ground till he arrived the scene and used his power of law enforcement “to force all the convoy back, made some arrests and then set Citizen Adio on his way.”

Posing the question, “Are we ready to act like Citizen Lanre Adio?” he asked his audience and proceeded to list more of the ways through which the high and the low contribute to dysfunctionality in society. “So, we must bring all of these to bear on ourselves. What will protect all of us when all is said and done is law and order, for the rich and the poor. We cannot trade on the streets, we cannot have big men driving unregistered vehicles or they cover their name plates and we cannot identify who did what with the vehicle. It makes crime detection very difficult. And at the end of the day it is just Law and Order.”

Rooted in the evergreen definition that “Law and Order exists for the purpose of establishing justice,” BRF has, in his now nearly two decades of public service, preached and led by example the essence of Law and Order as a foundation on which the sustainable development and progress of any nation could be laid.
He has continually built on this philosophy, perhaps with the consciousness, without doubt, that when Law and Order fail to establish justice “they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of progress”.

So, what has all this got to do with the coming General Elections, and what is the relation to the topic of the Sixth Gabfest. The truth of the matter is that this election will afford the people of Nigeria the opportunity to choose leaders that will maintain Law and Order and the Rule of Law.

With political parties waiting to begin official campaigns in earnest, BRF could only mean that any conversation involving compliance to Law and Order must involve everyone, including those aspiring to political leadership and those entrusted with the enforcement of Law and Order.

And if the topic, “Why am I Voting?” could also be expanded to read “Why am I voting for Candidate A or Candidate B,” then the question challenges all electorate to interrogate their true reason and motives for voting any aspirant to the position of leadership. Can such aspirants fulfill the yearning for security, peace, unity and good governance?

In that virtual presentation, BRF also spoke of the importance of continuity in governance especially good governance and knowledge and understanding of leadership. Citizens, he said, must not only appreciate good governance when they experience one but must also insist on it under any leader that emerges after the elections.

He elaborates on this by recalling the investments as Governor of Lagos State for two terms of eight years.
“When I look back to some of the investments that we made in Lagos and also across Nigeria; the Drivers’ Institute and training schools set up to train people to improve productivity, to set order and separate motorists from motorcyclists and all that, it is really a matter of regrets that we are still where we are. Many of the gains have been rolled back,” he said.

Stretched further, the topic, “Why am I Voting?”, could also mean that citizens must be ready to challenge their leaders when they are derailing from the path of good governance; when they deliberately tow the path of negligence in matters pertaining to the interest of the electorates and inclining to situations unacceptable to them.

Surely, as BRF turns 59 today, many Nigerians would wish him a happy birthday as a shining example of good leadership in whose steady hands the legacy projects of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in life-defining road transport infrastructure are making rapid progress towards the finish line. They are also looking up to him for dedicated service to the nation at whatever level he chooses to be going forward with or without a title.
Happy Birthday, BRF.

● Mr Hakeem Bello, FNGE, is Special Adviser, Communications
to the Hon. Minister

SPEECHES

Jun

2022

WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING, BASHIR NURA ALKALI, FCA, FCTI AT THE COMMISSIONING OF LAFIA-OBI-AWE-TUNGA ROAD IN NASARAWA STATE ON THURSDAY, 23rd JUNE, 2022.

PROTOCOLS

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this significant event in the affairs of our National life. I welcome all the eminent and distinguished invited guests to the occasion of the commissioning of the second phase of the completed roads across the country.

2. On behalf of the Honourable Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, Directors and Head of Units, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing, I welcome all distinguished invited Guests, the Royal Fathers and the entire people of Nasarawa State to this event.

3. As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s developmental agenda of addressing road infrastructural development across the length and breadth of Nigeria, the Federal Government as a policy direction focused on the completion of several on-going projects to stimulate economic development, job creation and promoting local content. The focus is to link the major arterial roads to Refineries, Ports, tertiary institutions and high volume commercial centres with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters etc.

4. The Ministry has successfully completed several roads and maintained several bridges to ensure that road users have a rewarding road travel experience. Several other roads and bridges are at various stages of completion such as the 2nd Niger Bridge and its approach road, Dualization of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano, Loko-Oweto Bridge linking Nasarawa to Benue States, Dualization of Enugu-Portharcourt Expressway, Bodo-Bonny Brigde, Lagos-Ibadan Dualization project, to mention just a few.

5. We have now entered the season of completion and handover of several roads and bridges projects across the country. Recently, 5-roads were commissioned by Mr. President who was represented by the Cabinet Ministers from the states where the projects were sited such as:

Commissioning of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kotangora-Makere Road, Phases I&II in Kebbi State;

Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road Phases I&II in Benue State;

Nenwe-Oduma Road Sections I&II in Enugu and Ebonyi States;

Kano-Maiduguri Section III (Azare-Potiskum) in Bauchi/Yobe States; and

Kano-Maiduguri Road Section II Shuwarin-Azare, with spur from Dutse to Kwanar Huguma in Jigawa/Bauchi States.

6. In this phase of the commissioning, Mr. President approved the commissioning of the following roads:

Rehabilitation of Efon Alaaye-Erinmo-Iwaraja Road In Ekiti/Osun States;

Isoko Ring Road in Delta State;

Rehabilitation of Hadeija-Nguru Road, Phase II CH 40+000-CH 73+150 Kirikasama-Nguru in Jigawa State;

Completion of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road Phase II (Gombe-Kaltungo) in Gombe State;

Construction of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section II, Phase I, (Gashua-Bayamari), Yobe State;

Rehabilitation of Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari Road Section I (Nguru-Gashua) Phase II in Yobe State;

Rehabilitation of Lafia-Obi-Awe-Tunga Road in Nasarawa State.

7. As we complete the commissioning of this road here in Nasarawa State, the train will move to Yobe State.

8. Our joy is that Nigerians are benefitting from the fruits of democracy and the promises made by the present Administration. These projects have created direct and indirect jobs as well as provided socio-economic benefits that the magnitude of such projects carries with it.

9. At this juncture, I welcome you all once again to the commissioning ceremony of this laudable road project in Nasarawa State.

Thank you and God bless you.