


NIGERIA MOVES TO UNLOCK TRANSFORMATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH WITH GLOBAL PARTNERS The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to deliver transformative development projects across priority sectors, particularly infrastructure. This came during a high-level meeting with the Vice President of the Bank, relevant stakeholders, held in Abuja and hosted by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun at the Ministry’s conference room, today, 1st september, 2025. In his remarks, The Honourable Minister of Finance, Wale Edun welcomed the IsDB delegation, describing the Bank as a steadfast ally in Nigeria’s development journey since 2005.“Your visit marks a significant moment in our shared journey of partnership, progress, and purpose. Despite fiscal constraints, Nigeria has continued to honor its obligations, and we deeply value the Bank’s flexibility in aligning with our realities,” he said. The Minister noted the success of IsDB interventions across education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and innovation, stressing that these projects are “lifelines for communities, engines of growth, and symbols of hope.” He underscored the alignment between Nigeria’s bold economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the IsDB’s 2026–2035 Strategic Framework. The Honourable Minister of State also confirmed that construction works have commenced on the Sokoto and Kebbi sections, with Hitech Construction achieving clearance and 25 kilometers of work on the Kebbi axis. Other projects cited included the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Calabar–Nasarawa–FCT corridor, and the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, all of which require additional financing to accelerate delivery. Responding to issues raised in terms of road infrastructure, the Operations Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Rami M. S. Ahmad, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to Nigeria’s infrastructure agenda. He stated that Infrastructure is a core pillar of our strategy, and we work from each country’s own priorities. For the road projects raised today, we will not allow delays to persist; where they can be re-scoped, we will act; where not, we will close them and move forward with new initiatives. The Ilela–Lagos–Sokoto–Badagry corridor and other key projects align with our mandate, and through the Country Engagement Framework, we are ready to accelerate their delivery,” he assured. In closing, the Honourable Minister of Finance expressed his profound gratitude to the IsDB team for their assurances and reiterated that Nigeria’s ownership and alignment of priorities under the Country’s Engagement Framework. He said, “It is our bank, our sovereignty, our projects, our priorities. Today, my colleagues from Education, Environment, Transportation, Works, Water Resources and Sanitation, and my team from the Ministry of Finance, have given a comprehensive insight into our key priorities and legacy projects. The time has come to move beyond frameworks and concept notes to implementation, beginning with the signing of the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project,” he affirmed. The Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, in her closing remarks, expressed her appreciation for the depth of engagement achieved during the meeting . “This dialogue has enhanced the strength of our partnership and the vast potential that lies ahead. From infrastructure and human capital to Islamic finance and the Nigerian economy, the opportunities for collaboration are both strategic and urgent. As custodians of Nigeria’s public finance, we are committed to deploying every naira transparently, efficiently, and in line with our national priorities,” she stated.
The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, who was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Bello Goronyo, Esq, emphasized the administration’s prioritization of road infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He highlighted the Ilela–Lagos–Sokoto–Badagry economic corridor, describing it as a strategic lifeline that connects Nigeria to the Niger Republic and other African countries: “This corridor is a vital economic artery that will boost trade, create jobs, and lift communities out of poverty. President Tinubu’s commitment to this project reflects his determination to drive Nigeria’s economic transformation,” he stated.
Clement Ezeora
For: Director Press and Public Relations.
2nd September, 2025.
FEDERAL MINSTRY OF WORKS ADOPTS MORE WORKEABLE MEASURES TO END DELAYS OF CONTRACTORS IN PROJECT DELIVERY, EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO CREATIVITY, INNOVATIONS AND THINKING OUT OF THE BOX TO MEET THE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF NIGERIANS As part of strategic infrastructure development masterplan of the Renewed Hope administration of His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Federal Government has adopted workeable measures to end the old order of unnecessary delays in the execution of road infrastructure projects by contractors and has taken steps to rejig the monstrous contract price variation clause which has been a major clog in the wheel of progress of project execution over the years. This was contained in the briefing of the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON, during a meeting with contractors handling Federal Government's projects, held at the Ministry's Headquarters, Mabushi-Abuja on 10th June 2024. The Honourable Minister expressed the urgency of thinking realistically, creatively, innovatively, and thinking out of the square to overcome the funding challenges that face road infrastructure development in Nigeria. He narrated, " When the Renewed Hope administration came on board on 29th May 2023, Mr. President inherited over 2600 ongoing projects from the past administration amounting to over N15 trillion, out of which only about N2 trillion was certified and paid. And so we now have ongoing projects of N13 trillion, including budgetary projects, NNPCL, SUKUK, Presidential Initiative Development Projects, other Tax Credit Scheme Projects of NLNG, MTN, Dangote, BUA, Mainstream and projects under EPC +F, PPP" He stated that the aftermaths of fuel subsidy and the forex forces affected drastically the contract cost elements and pricing of which Variation on Price( VOP) could not provide a remedy especially for jobs awarded so many years ago, and where VOP on contracts was sometimes hitting 500%. He further stated that in looking for a solution, the Ministry sought for and got Mr. President's approval to give an envelope in the 2024 budgetary provision to keep all the inherited projects alive, believing that more funding of such projects could come by thinking outside the box. The new projects under the 2024 projects, including the constituency projects of the National Assembly, also have poor budgetary allocations. In tackling responsibly the challenges of funding, price variation, and delays in projects delivery, the Honourable Minister introduced responsive approaches which were adopted as the Ministry's measures to overcome the challenges of road infrastructure development in Nigeria. Such measures include but are not limited to reviewing the VOP clause to ensure workability in line with the economic realities, making it a policy that all contractors handling two carriageway projects (with the exemption of the 3 legacy projects) must first complete one side of the two carriageways and thereafter continue with the second part subject to availability of fund, advancement of funds after award of contract is subject to conditions contained in the bid document, going forward. Other measures adopted were that contractors must have a timeline for project delivery, and every contractor shall have a duty to maintain the road under construction until the entire project is completed and delivered. A deadline shall be given for all ongoing projects, and with time, all projects that have no funding shall be stood down, but projects will be selected Zone by zone or State by State for funding. In applying these measures, he emphasized that all contractors will be treated equally. "One thing that is our policy is that no contractor in the Ministry of Works will be treated differently. Whether you're an indigenous contractor or you're a foreign contractor, insofar as you can turn cement to the right grade and place it rightly. You're a good contractor; we check, and it's good." The Honourable Minister noted the various projects completed by contractors and other major ones to be ready for commissioning from July, 2024 and directed the Directors in charge of each Geo-Political Zone to officially and publicly commission the various projects completed in their respective Zones. He further directed that committees made up of the Ministry's Engineers and the Media correspondents be set up to pay inspection visits to the respective zones to assess the level of project performance in all the federal government projects being handled by the Federal Ministry of Works under the Renewed Hope administration. ...
RENEWED HOPE ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO COMPLETING THE ABUJA-KADUNA- KASTINA-KANO FEDERAL HIGHWAY, COMMENCES DESIGN OF SOKOTO -BADAGRY ROAD The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Dr. Nweze David Umahi CON has reiterated the commitment of Federal Government under the Renewed Hope administration of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to completing the Abuja- Kaduna-Katsina- Kano Federal Highway within a record time. He stated this during a courtesy visit of the Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Sen. Uba Sani to his office, Mabushi-Abuja, on 7th May 2024. Speaking during the event, the Honourable Minister said he had the directive of Mr. President to present a programme that could see to the completion of the project within the next one year. He assured the Governor that the project, which was inherited from the past administration, would be started in three sections as soon as possible. He said, "We are going to have the first section of 38 kilometers by 2, (which is 76 kilometers,) done by Dangote Group of Companies on Tax Credit and it's going to use concrete to do it. We will allow the next 82 kilometers for Julius Berger to handle. And then the last 20 kilometers by 2, (which is 40 kilometers) for BUA to handle and to also use concrete to do that. And I can assure you that the job will start in these three sections within this month of May." The Honourable Minister commended the Governor for the peace and development being witnessed in Kaduna State under his administration despite inherent challenges. "I want to commend you very highly. In spite of the challenges you have in your State, you have started extremely very well. And God will be with you. God will provide the means because you mean well for the nation, for your people in Kaduna State and in fact, for everyone who is living in Kaduna State. I want to commend you. I commend you for the peace of the State, the unity of the State and the oneness of the State, irrespective of religion "He further stated that the President's directive on designing 1000 kilometers Sokoto- Badagry Highway was being handled with dispatch by the Federal Ministry of Works, noting that the project would cover the old African trade route of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos States, connecting to Badagry. He also stated that a proposal was being made to link the South East to the North through the Trans Sahara Highway that would have a spur passing through Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and end in Abuja. On his part, the Governor of Kaduna State extolled the vision and will of the President of Nigeria in revolutionizing road infrastructure, which is a catalyst for the socio- economic development of the nation, and the commitment of the Honourable Minister of Works which has changed the narrative in the development of road infrastructure in Nigeria. He said," I have to commend him for his effort. Since his assumption to office, he has made us proud, because he has done extremely well, and because he has been able to follow the blueprint of our President, who has promised everyone when he was elected, that he would take development to every part of Nigeria, irrespective of those that elected him or not. And of course, that is the agenda, that is the Renewed Hope. Today, we are proud to say that development is reaching everywhere in Nigeria." He commended the President's initiative to construct Lagos-Calabar road and the Sokoto-Badagry road, noting that the projects would enhance the socio-economic potential of the country when completed. He emphasized the importance of Federal Government's intervention on the Eastern Bypass in Kaduna State, the Mando-Benigwari road connecting the North-West. He said that the road was of prime importance for agricultural programmes in the North. "And for all of us in Northern Nigeria, you will agree with me that farming is very important. And what we really want is creating opportunities for people that are in the rural areas. That will certainly help, particularly our farmers, linking our farms with markets. Our people believe in this infrastructure to support our farmers. ...
GOVERNOR UBA SANI COMMENDS WORKS MINISTER OVER INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT, URGES COMPLETION OF KEY PROJECTS. Kaduna state Governor Senator Uba Sani, has commended the Honourable Minister of Works His Excellency Engr. Dr. David Umahi over his efforts on Infrastructural development across the Country. The Governor made this remark during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Works in his office in Abuja. Sani praised the progress being made on various road projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, Sokoto-Badagry Road, and Kaduna- Zamfara –Sokoto as well as the Zaria to Kaduna, Makurdi-Enugu Road amongst others. The Senator the described the Abuja –Kaduna road to link to four (4) states with enormous benefit to cities and rural communities. He also urged the Minister to complete the Eastern bypass in Kaduna and the Mando – Birnin- Gwari Road, which was promised by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his campaign visit to Kaduna. Senator Sani commended the Minister for separating the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road project, which will now be constructed by Dangote, BUA, and Julius Berger through the Tax Credit Scheme. He expressed his excitement over the project's completion within the next one year as directed by President Tinubu. In his remarks, the Honourable Minister assured Senator Sani that the projects will be completed as scheduled and thanked him for his support and encouragement. He also commended Senator Sani for his leadership role in bringing everyone together irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliations and commitment to the development of Kaduna State and the nation at large. The meeting reinforced the Federal Government's commitment to Infrastructural development and its determination to leave a lasting legacy in Nigeria's path to development. ...
FG Completes, Hands Over 1km Road to Fedpoly Kazaure
The fast moving train in the Season of Completion and Impact involving the commissioning of projects under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing moved to Jigawa State, North Western Nigeria, Thursday, February 24th, 2022.
Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure in Jigawa State was the beneficiary this time around. And the project commissioned and handed over consisted of four link roads totalling one kilometer length rehabilitated with asphalt overlay in the institution by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
The four link roads were: Road A linking four classrooms and three lecture halls; Road B linking the three halls with the 500-seater lecture theatre; Road C linking the 500-seater theatre with students’ hostel; while Road D connect the students hostel and the accommodation tower.
In his address, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Jigawa State, Engr. Atewolara Oladele Gabriel said that the Ministry was working on 76 road projects in selected Federal Tertiary Institutions across the nation.
"We have successfully intervened in the internal road networks of 46 Tertiary Institutions and handed over 29 as at 2021 and we now have another 17 ready to be handed over while we are currently attending to 30 roads in similar institutions across the country making a total of 76", he said.
The Minister explained that the quality of infrastructure in the tertiary institutions would improve the learning environment, and impact positively on the quality of education, pointing out that the feedbacks from the students of the schools where this type of intervention had taken place testified to it.
"The summary of all the feedbacks from students and Management staff of the institutions has demonstrated that the gap of the nation's infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs and construction on the major highways and schools," he said.
Accordingly, the Minister stated that the construction of the internal roads in the tertiary institutions by Federal Government was a pointer to the progressive ideals of the Buhari administration in improving the human condition by supporting education.
In his response, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Sabo Wada Dutse, expressed happiness and excitement at the intervention, which he described as significant to the development of the Polytechnic.
The Rector stated that, with the road intervention, the Polytechnic community was now living at peace with no fears of reptiles which the area was prone to before the intervention.
He, however, solicited further intervention by the Federal government in areas like street and security lights and construction of sports complex in the Polytechnic whenever the opportunity arises.
Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Federal Polytechnic Kazaure Chapter, Dr. Abdul'azeez Ibrahim Badaru, expressed appreciation to the Minister for including the Polytechnic in the Tertiary Schools Road Intervention Scheme.
He said ", this will ease the stress of both staff and students. The access roads will enhance the environment and improve teaching and learning”. He also thanked the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Babangida Hussain, for what he has done for the Fedpoly Kazaure
" I want to appeal to the Honourable Minister to please include Federal Polytechnic Kazaure in the Housing scheme of the Ministry as the houses in the school are very few and very old, built by the Jigawa State Government before the conversion of the Polytechnic to a federal institution”, Dr Badaru added
Accordingly, he said the gesture would alleviate the suffering of the staff, who mostly come from Kano and other distant places, adding that it would also boost morale and performance, suggesting that the Ministry should construct at least 100 units of houses.
The President of the Students Union Government, Fedpoly Kazaure, comrade Adamu Sani Yarima, expressed profound gratitude to the Federal government and the Ministry of Works and Housing under the watch of Mr. Babatunde Fashola for supporting the Institution with the roads.
Comrade Yarima, also requested for more interventions especially in recreational facilities such as sports complex in the polytechnic.
REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SESSION AND PERMANENT SECRETARY, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS AND HOUSING, ALHAJI BABANGIDA HUSSAINI
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary and Chairman of the session, Babangida Hussaini welcomed Permanent Secretaries to the 27th Meeting of the National Council on Works. He thanked the Host, His Excellency Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, his executive team members and good people of Bauchi State for providing the enabling environment for the successful hosting of the event.
He also thanked the technical session for the meticulous work done on the memoranda presented for the consideration of the 27th meeting of the National Council meeting on Works.
He explained that the theme of this year’s National Council on Works “Infrastructure Delivery, the Maintenance Economy, and National Prosperity” is carefully chosen as a new concept to explore ways of providing massive infrastructure with the support of alternative sources of funding to complement Government efforts and reduce overdependence on Government for infrastructure delivery.
He added further that the focus of the Theme is on policy formulation and implementation, Institutional Strengthening, alternative sources of funding, enhancing professionalism in road infrastructure development, maintenance as an emerging economy in infrastructure economy, tolling and weigh bridges as a catalyst in road infrastructure development and sustainability, Local Content and Alternative technology in road infrastructure development and skill development and job creation for national prosperity.
He charged members to ensure that the outcome of the meeting, meets the standard and expectations of the Council so that the nation can harness the benefits of accelerated infrastructure development.
DRIVING NIGERIA’S FUTURE: CELEBRATING TWO YEARS OF TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP AND THE LAGOS-CALABAR COASTAL HIGHWAY MILESTONE
DRIVING NIGERIA’S FUTURE: CELEBRATING TWO YEARS OF TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP AND THE LAGOS-CALABAR COASTAL HIGHWAY MILESTONE
MID -TERM REVIEW MEETING ON THE IMPLIMENTATION OF THE DECISIONS REACHED AT THE 29TH NATIONAL COUNCIL ON WORKS (NCW) DAY 1
MID -TERM REVIEW MEETING ON THE IMPLIMENTATION OF THE DECISIONS REACHED AT THE 29TH NATIONAL COUNCIL ON WORKS (NCW) DAY 1