Federal Ministry of Works

Nov

2025

LATEST PRESS

FG Decries Road Vandalism, Reaffirms Commitment to Record Completion of Abuja-Kano Expressway

The Federal Government has expressed deep concern over the rising cases of vandalism and misuse of newly constructed and ongoing road projects across the country, warning that such irresponsible acts threaten the lifespan and safety of critical national infrastructure.

Minister of State for Works, Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., issued the warning on Saturday, 8th November 2025, during a holistic inspection visit to the Outstanding Sections of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway project, where he condemned the destructive activities of some hoodlums along the completed and active sections of the road.

The Minister, in particular, decried instances of individuals removing safety railings, damaging concrete pavements, or converting portions of the highway into refuse dumps and drying grounds—especially around the Jaji Bridge corridor in Kaduna State.

“Maintenance begins with discipline and public responsibility,” Goronyo stated. “We have observed people cutting through newly completed road sections or tampering with vital components. These acts of vandalism must stop immediately,” he warned.

In this vein, he urged traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents to take collective ownership of public infrastructure and ensure that such national assets are protected from misuse, adding that the government’s huge investments in road development must be safeguarded for future generations.

“The Renewed Hope Administration of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committing enormous resources to the building of durable roads across the country. Every act of vandalism or road abuse undermines national progress and the deployment of taxpayers’ money to other critical national priorities,” the Minister emphasised.

Reaffirming the government’s resolve to complete the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway within record time, Goronyo described the project as a flagship of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to enhance trade, promote unity, and strengthen economic integration between the Northern and Southern regions of the country.

He disclosed that the Section I (Abuja-Kaduna) of the project, spanning 144 kilometres, is progressing steadily across several active sections - from Tungan Maje and Jere to Katari, Kakau, Gonigora, and Agogo Junction—with significant work already completed in drainage, reinforcement, and the construction of the shoulders.

“So far, about 26 kilometres of continuous rigid concrete pavement and 15 kilometres of binder and wearing course have been completed,” the Minister revealed. “The President has made it clear that funding will not be a constraint. It is now a matter of work and getting paid,” he informed the contractor, Messrs. Infiouest International Limited.

In line with the President’s directive for durable infrastructure, the Acting Director, Highways, Bridges and Design at the Ministry, Engr. Musa Sa’idu explained that the project design was upgraded from flexible (asphalt) to rigid (concrete) pavement, capable of lasting for about a century and withstanding the stress of heavy-duty and overloaded vehicles.

He further disclosed that a recycling approach is being used to strengthen the substructure, by mixing milled asphalt with stone base and cement to improve durability and minimize environmental impact.

Mr. Robert Turner, Senior Project Manager of the company, reaffirmed their commitment to engineering excellence and set a target, adding that work is progressing seven days a week, with plans to introduce night shifts to accelerate completion.
“We are determined to deliver this project ahead of schedule. The government has demonstrated exceptional consistency in funding, and we are matching that commitment with performance,” Turner assured.

Concluding the inspection tour at the additional location of the Kano end of the alignment, the Minister reiterated that the Abuja–Kano Expressway remains one of the most strategic road corridors in the nation, symbolising Mr. President’s unwavering commitment to infrastructural renewal, national security, and economic prosperity.

“This project is dear to the President’s heart. It is not just a road - it is a lifeline for trade, social and political integration, as well as national unity. Every Nigerian must play a part in protecting it,” Goronyo declared.

Earlier at the end of Section II (Kaduna-Zaria), which has been completed and handed over by the previous contractor, the
Minister detoured to inspect another ongoing construction work on the Unguwar Iliya-Bagudu-Kwantakaran-Tsiga-Bakori Road with Kadabo Bridge in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State. He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work, which has an approximate length of 17.3 kilometres, starting from Tsiga Town and passing through the Barde community. The scope of work includes the construction of a single carriageway and three reinforced concrete bridges.

Briefing the Minister on the Project, the Federal Controller/Engineers’ Representative, Engr. Muhammad I. Matinja and the Project Manager for Messrs. Halis Matrix Limited, Engr. David Omotosho expressed optimism about the progress of work, assuring that it will be completed on time and according to its design.

**Mohammed A Ahmed, **
Director Press and Public Relations.
9th November 2025.

Feb

2020

FG’S Renewal, Construction Of Major Highways Has Reached Schools - Fashola * As FG hands over 3 completed internal road projects to FUTO * Gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged - Minister * Says quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure, learning environments * VC, Senate Council laud FG, Students say, Now that the roads have been fixed we can move easily to our classes" The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, Monday in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, handed over three rehabilitated internal roads in the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) to the authorities of the institution, expressing delight that the nation’s infrastructure gap was being gradually bridged. In his remarks at the handover ceremony, Fashola, who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works, Imo State, Engr. Anthony Animaku, expressed joy that the roads were now completed and ready for formal handover to the Institution adding that the purpose was to enhance the quality of education. Buttressing the importance of infrastructure development in educational institutions the Minister declared, "The gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repair, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached schools”, adding that the quality of education would be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environments. Underscoring the positive impact of the projects, the Minister said anyone in doubt should simply “listen to some of the feedbacks from students where this type of infrastructure has taken place”, adding, “The interventions in the various tertiary institutions will have a critical contribution to support education in the country. “Currently, there are a number of internal road interventions across tertiary institutions in Nigeria, and the students are saying that their reluctance to attend classes because of the bad roads, has been replaced by an enthusiasm to do so, now that the roads are better”, he said. Pointing out that the project is an investment in education although a civil Works project, Fashola declared, “During the construction, people were employed in the process contributing to the job creation initiatives of the government, and it is hoped that the school will now ensure that this asset is used properly and not abused”. The Minister, who promised that Government would continue to intervene in education, explained further, “The intervention by Federal Government would improve the ambience and environment of Federal Tertiary Institutions to enhance academic activities". The roads, which are among the 18 completed out of Federal Government’s 43 road intervention projects in tertiary institutions across the country, include the Health Centre, Hostel and Smat Roads. Awarded in 2018 and completed the same year, work done on the roads includes construction and asphalting of Health Centre and Hostel Roads and rehabilitation of Smat Road. Responding, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Francis Chukwuemeka Eze, commended the Federal Government for choosing Federal University of Technology, Owerri as one of the beneficiaries of its laudable intervention. Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Ndukwe James Okeudo, the Vice Chancellor, who stated that the roads are of great importance to the institution as it would aid access and movement around the school, added, “The Senate, Council and the entire Management are very grateful that FUTO was singled out as a beneficiary. We thank Mr. President and the Minister for this honour done to us". He promised that the school would maintain the projects. Also speaking on behalf of all the students of the institution, Mr. Donald Anarado recalled that hitherto the roads were not passable especially during the Rainy Season. In his words, "When rain falls, we cannot move easily from our hostels to classes, but now that the roads have been fixed we can move easily to our classes. We are very grateful to Federal Government". ...

Feb

2020

Aliyu Charged Contractors To Expedite Work On Wudil - Gaya Road Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr Abubakar Aliyu FNSE has told Dantata & Sawoe, the Contractor handling rehabilation work on Kano-Shuwarin section of Kano- Maiduguri Road Project, to speed up work to deliver the job on target. Aliyu gave the charge over the weekend while on inspection visit of the road to assess the progress of the ongoing work. "I was here last december to see the level of work and I am back here today in February to see the progress you made" he said. The minister stated that he was very concerned for the road to be delivered in time due to the accidents being recorded on the road as a result of the bad situation between Wudil and Gaya. Engr Aliyu who showed disappointment with the level of work by the contractors in two months from his last visit in december, urged the contractor to double up effort to meet the target Accordingly, he told the contractor to confront the rehabilatation work from both Wudil and Gaya sides in order to finish on time, urging them to bring more machineries and additional staff on site Reiterating the committment of President Buhari to deliver good roads infrastructure for Nigerians, Aliyu said "We can not always sit behind in our offices in Abuja, expecting results without us coming out to have first hand information on the situation of the roads, that's why we are always going out for supervision". Engr.Aliyu also added that, in order to assist Mr President fulfill his promise to deliver roads, his senior Minister Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN and himself are always running pillar to pole round the clock to ensure achieving good results. "Just in recent weeks, my senior colleague Minister Babatunde Rabi Fashola SAN,was in Edo and Niger states on roads inspection. I was in Numan, Adamawa state yesterday, and now here in Kano state. We divided ourselves to ensure things are going in order" he said Honourable Minister of state, was together with zonal controller of works and the representative of the contractor Dantata & Sawoe.The contractor had promised the Minister that they will mobilise additional machines and staff to the site in the next two weeks as requested. He further added that they will concentrate on the dangerous areas of the road in order to reduce the rate of accidents, and later come to complete the work on the bridge ...

Feb

2020

Fashola Charges Staff on Service Delivery The Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola,SAN has charged staff of the ministry to ensure quality service delivery to Nigerians and members of the public. Fashola gave the charge on Friday in his keynote address at the opening of a retreat for the top management staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and its agencies at Gombe International Hotel Gombe, Gombe State. The theme of the two- day Top Management Retreat is '"Service Delivery for National Prosperity". It is the 7th retreat in the series held by the Ministry. Fashola explained that the main objective of the retreat is focused on quality service delivery to Nigerians and members of the public by the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. "There is a way you deliver service and get commended and another you get scolded,"he said. He, therefore, urged staff on service delivery with compassion and care in order to create a better public perception of the Ministry.Fashola pointed out that the retreat is an opportunity for staff to reflect on previous performances with a view to fine tuning them for improvement. Earlier in a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mohammed Bukar stated that the ministry has been holding the retreat quarterly since the inception of the present administration under the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. He explained that the common thread that ran through the themes of all the previous retreats was the concept of "Team Work." Bukar further explained that it was a deliberate choice to underscore the need for inter and intra-departmental synergy and collaboration in pursuit of the implementation of the core mandates of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. Speaking specifically on the theme of the 7th Top Management Retreat, the Permanent Secretary said, "The emphasis has now shifted to service delivery. This is pursuant to the directive of the Honourable Minister that 'service delivery' shall be the focus of the second term of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Administration." "The relevance of this theme to the core mandate of the Ministry cannot, therefore, be over emphasized considering the new focus of the management on completion of projects," he said. Bukar , therefore, urged participants to use the two -day forum to engage in cross fertilisation of ideas that will guide the operations of the Ministry, stating that the fundamental objective of the Retreat is to review, fine tune and come out with new strategies for improved service delivery. ...