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.

Dec

2016

Fashola Calls For The Harmonisation Of Existing Policies In Creating The National Transport Bill The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, said there is need to factor in other existing government policies into the newly proposed National Transport Bill currently being considered by the Senate Joint Committee on Land Transport, Marine Transport and Aviation. He made this call at a one- day Public Hearing on a bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the National Transport Commission as an Independent Multi-Model Economic Regulator for the Transport Industry and other Related Matters. The Minister commended the National Assembly by allowing officials of the ministries and other agencies of government to contribute in the decision making process of this important legislative draft bill for the entire benefit of the people and the nation at large. Fashola stated that, though he has not been privileged to other bills as its relate to the Ministry of Transport, adding that his intervention and that of the ministry will be more of advisory, cautionary and demanding of perhaps so much retrospection before making a final decision on the bill. Policy, according to the minister continues almost globally and they originate from ministries. "We must at this point ask ourselves what is the transport policy that we seek to implement?". He noted for example that government has a policy on safety which brought about the establishment of the Federal Road Safety Commission to implement its policy on safety. Also, government's policy on road maintenance led to the creation of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, Similarly, its policy on housing brought about the establishment of the Federal Housing Authority, same in the Aviation sector and other sectors. The minister called for retrospection in making a lasting policy that would make the transport industry a viable one, adding that for this to be achieved, there is need for the Senate committee to constitute a technical body to look into all the grey areas before passage of the bill into law. Earlier in his opening remarks, the chairman of the Senate Joint Committee on Land Transport, Marine Transport and Aviation, Sen. Olugbenga Asafa welcomed and thanked the special guests and other participants for honouring their invitation. He enjoined the sector professionals and stakeholders to cooperate with the committee as they solicit and galvanized more information on this important bill which is crucial to the transport industry. He however noted that the establishment of the National Transport Commission connotes an independent regulatory body in the transport sector. The Commission among others is to be responsible for the provision of transport policies, regulate the transport industry, protect the right and interest of service operators and commuters; and create an enabling environment for private sector participation in the provision of essential services in the transport sector. While declaring the one-day public hearing opened, the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki who was represented by the Senate Leader, Sen. Ali Ndume welcomed participants and remarked that the essence of this one-day public hearing is to seek the most updated knowledge on information of matters before us. The Senate President said that, the Senate have identified the National Transport Bill among other bills that will help us develop our transport sector in a manner that would cut cost of doing business with efficiency and innovation. According to him, 'the bill when passed into law will provide the legal, regulatory and institutional basic necessity to interconnect, synchronized and share government policy in the entire spectrum of transport in the country from aviation to land and marine, adding that it will add enormous potentials to help our entrepreneurs to move goods and services much more efficient and reliably in a multi-model system'. The proposed bill for an act to create the National Transport Commission is being sponsored by Senator Andy Uba of the Senate Joint Committee on Land Transport, Marine Transport and Aviation. ...