Federal Ministry of Works

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Welcome To Federal Ministry Of Works.

Minister Federal Ministry Of Works Engr. David Umahi.

Road Construction Inspection Tour.

Road Inspection.

Road Construction Inspection Tour.

Road Inspection.

Road Construction Inspection Tour.

Oct

2025

LATEST PRESS

Umahi Inspects Mararaba–Keffi Carriageway, Keffi Flyover Project, Visits Keffi-Nasarawan Toto–Abaji Road

The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. (Engr.) David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE led a high-powered delegation from the Ministry on an inspection tour of key road projects in Nasarawa State. At the site of the Reconstruction and Expansion of Mararraba-Keffi Dual Carriageway, the Minister expressed serious concerns about the pace of work and lack of adherence to engineering specifications. He informed the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company that after several warnings, the Ministry is left with no choice but to revoke the contract for the Abuja-bound carriageway. He further directed that it should be awarded to a local contractor with a proven track record, who will be mobilised to complete the concrete shoulders and other pending works. The slow pace of construction had been causing considerable hardship for road users and residents along the corridor.

The Minister was accompanied by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq, Directors and other staff of the Ministry, representatives of the construction firms handling the various projects, and was met at the Keffi Flyover by the Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, Sen. Ahmed Wadata, officials of the State Government, and other stakeholders.

Engr. Umahi emphasised that the Federal Government is committed to delivering high-quality and durable road infrastructure, meeting global engineering standards and capable of serving Nigerians for decades. “We cannot continue to tolerate uncooperative contractors, who delay projects and ignore directives,” he declares.

The Minister reiterated his faith in Nigerian Engineers and contractors, guaranteeing that they would deliver quality jobs comparable to international standards, when given the opportunity. He also warned that any contractor who fails to meet deadlines or flouts directives would have their contracts terminated. Engr. Umahi cautioned that “If by the 15th of December, you do not finish the scope of work, I will terminate the whole contract. We must begin to trust our local contractors. This is about discipline, quality, and integrity,” he stressed.

He went further to say that “when we came on board, we reviewed the method statement for this project because we could not accept a design that would destroy an already consolidated subgrade,” Umahi explained. “We changed the design to include 20 cm of concrete on the inner shoulder and reinforced the stone base with 3.5% cement content. The sections already completed are excellent and will last for a minimum of 50 years.”

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq, also admonished contractors to show greater seriousness and commitment to the timely completion of projects. He restated that the present administration is determined to deliver quality infrastructure that will stand the test of time, as well as improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

Goronyo added that we must all take our responsibilities seriously. “Contractors must adhere strictly to specifications and timelines, as the Ministry will not compromise on quality and accountability,” the Minister disclosed.

The Director, Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Clement Ogbuagu reported that about 50% of the project has been completed and assured that the first phase will be delivered by December 15, 2025.

At the site of the Emergency Repairs of the Damaged Keffi Flyover, the Minister, accompanied by the Nasarawa State Governor, said that “two months ago, a tragic accident damaged part of this flyover, leading to loss of lives. We reported it to Mr. President, who immediately approved funds for its repairs.”
“Today, we can see the quality of work being done. They are recasting the entire slab, not just the affected part at a very conservative cost of ₦1.5 billion,” he added.

On the soon-to-be-awarded rescoped Keffi-Nasarawan Toto-Abaji Road, the Minister informed the Governor and his entourage that the original contract sum of ₦73 billion covered an initial 43.65 km stretch. However, the initial scope has now been reviewed and extended to 137 km, reaching Abaji town in the FCT, following the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, under a special funding arrangement.

In his remarks, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule commended President Tinubu and the Minister of Works for their interventions in the State, especially the Keffi Flyover, which was recently damaged by an overloaded truck.
The Governor further noted that the Keffi–Nasarawan Toto-Abaji road is crucial to the economic development of both Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory, as it serves as a major gateway for goods, services, and people. It also serves the biggest Lithium Factory in Africa, recently commissioned by Mr. President.

Senator Wadada, representing Nasarawa West and other stakeholders commended the Minister for his dedication, describing him as an “uncommon performer,” whose hands-on approach reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu. They also applauded the President for being “a leader for all.”

Engr. Umahi reaffirmed that all ongoing Federal projects will now adopt the revised engineering method statement, which emphasises, complete milling of old pavement, reinforcement of subgrade with stone base and cement, 20 cm concrete shoulders, and proper drainage and slope control. He also stressed that these specifications are designed to guarantee a minimum lifespan of 50 years for the reconstructed roads.

“No contractor, no matter how connected, will be allowed to compromise on quality. Mr. President has done his part by approving funding; it is now our duty to ensure delivery,” the Minister emphasised.

Mohammed A. Ahmed,
Director, Press and Public Relations.
12th October 2025.

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.* ...

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Jul

2024

OTHER NEWS

Jan

2024

New Permanent Secretary Works Yakubu Kofarmata Assures of Innovation to Achieving Renewed Hope Agenda

The newly deployed Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Works has given assurance that subsequent new innovations in the Ministry shall be geared towards achieving Mr. President's Renewed Hope Agenda in infrastructural development, especially in road construction and rehabilitation for ease of doing business in all sector of the Nigerian Economy. He made this remark after signing and receiving the hand over notes in the Ministry. The new Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Works Mr. Yakubu Kofarmata, was extremely glad to be back to the Ministry, haven served preiviously in the Ministry as an Asst. Director.

He was Particularly delighted seeing a good number of female leaders and architects still present, adding that it was an indication that the Ministry of works is a place that can bring the needed change in the country.

Mr YAKUBU KOFARMATA said in his words “I come here as a brother, friend and colleague and so we have to work together to help the President as well as the Honorable Minister to achieve all that they have spelt out in their agenda”.

Kofarmata further expressed optimism that his leadership would be a new beginning that would bring about innovation for the Ministry and the Country at large.

SPEECHES

Dec

2023

Brief by the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator. (Engr) Nweze David Umahi CON, FNSE, FNATE on the Occasion of the Presentation and Defence of the Ministry’s 2024 Budget io the Joint Committee on Works

The Chairman,
Senate Committee on Works,
Distinguished Senators,
The Chairman,
House Committee on Works
Honourable Members

1.0 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
I wish to express the appreciation of the Ministry to the Joint National Assembly Committee on Works for this opportunity to present and defend the Ministry’s 2023 Budget Performance and 2024 Budget Proposal. The Ministry received the letter Ref. No. NASS/S&H/COW/01/10/1 dated 30th November, 2023 from the Joint Committee on Works requesting for details and submissions on issues pertaining to the performance of the 2023 Appropriation and 2024 Budget proposal. These documents have also been earlier submitted in response to the said letter. I will also like to explain and highlight some aspects of the submissions in the course of this budget defense.

2.0 OVERVIEW OF THE 2023 APPROPRIATION
The sum of N534, 455,695,989.00 was appropriated to the Ministry of Works and Housing and its Parastatals in the 2023 fiscal year. From this amount, Works and Housing Sectors of the then Ministry was allocated a total Capital of N453,255,980,966.00. Following the demerger of the Ministry, Federal Ministry of Works was allocated the sum of N383, 351,656,449.00 as Capital, Overhead was in the Sum of N525,362,343.96 and Personnel was in the Sum of N6,916,751,203.00. The details of the Appropriation are as follows:

(a)    Capital Allocation:
i. Main Ministry of Works:               N383,351,656,449.00
ii. Parastatals:                                 N 46,215,578,221.00
Total                                             N429,567, 234, 670.00

(b)   Overhead Cost:
i. Main Ministry:                    N535,362,344.40
ii. Parastatals:
a. Office of the Survey-General of the Federation (OSGOF)         N239, 664,804.00
b. Federal School of Surveys (FSS), Oyo          N50, 523,550.00
c. Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA)      N17, 525,286,292.00
d. Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) N9, 691,801.00
e. Surveyors’ Registration Council of Nigeria (SURCON)             N14, 971,301.00
    Total                                                                                  N18,375,500,092.4

(c)   PERSONNEL COST
i.    Main Ministry                            N6,916,751,203.00
ii.   Parastatals                               N5,234,644,736.00

Total N12,151,395,939.0

3.0 2023 BUDGET RELEASES/PERFORMANCE

As earlier said, the Capital Allocation to the Ministry was N383, 351,656,449.00 after the demerger of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. The releases so far to the Ministry was in the sum of N184,165,147,332.29, which represents 48.01% of the Capital Allocation in the 2023 Appropriation. This leaves a balance of N199, 405,010,166.71 to be released by the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF).

3.10. Capital Projects

The sum of N184,165,147,332.29 released up to date to the Ministry from the 2023 Budget Appropriation had been utilized for payments of some certified Certificates for executed works on roads and bridges by Highway, projects of Engineering Services and Common Services Departments. It is to be noted that as at the end of November 2023 the Ministry had a cumulative unpaid certificate in the sum of N1,507,873,365,516.02 (One Trillion, Five Hundred and Seven Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventy-three Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixteen Naira, Two Kobo) only for all inherited on-going highway and bridge projects. Apart from the pressure on the resources to pay, there is the inadequacy of annual budgetary provisions where in most cases N100m or N200m and even less was provided for projects estimated to cost above twenty- fifty billion Naira or even more. Awarding such projects even though appropriated is difficult on its own because the provision is inadequate to even pay 10% for mobilization whereas the Procurement Act prescribes 30% mobilization. The details of all the 2023 Budget Performance for Highways Capital Projects are provided in the document attached as Annexure I.

3.20 Overhead

Out of the Total Approved Overhead of N535,362,344.40 the sum of N312,294,700.90 was released to the Ministry for overhead costs for the period January - July, 2023, which represents 58.33% of the budgetary provision with an outstanding sum of N 223,067,643.50.

3.30 Personnel Cost

The Personnel Cost of N12,598,351,319.00 for the Ministry is being implemented through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) programme in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

4.0 REVENUE GENERATED

The sum of N723,063,678.62 was generated as revenue from January to November, 2023 and all the revenue realized have been remitted to the consolidated Revenue Account (evidence of IGR remittance enclosed).

5.0 2024 BUDGET PROPOSAL
The total sum of N 657,228,251,596 was proposed for the Federal Ministry of Works and its Parastatals for Capital, Personnel and Overhead estimates in the 2024 Appropriation Bill. The breakdown of the proposals is as follows:

5.10   Capital Budget Proposal
a). Main Ministry of Works                                       N 566,466,977,361
b). Parastatals
i. Federal Road Maintenance Agency(FERMA).         N 51, 282,456,911
ii. African Regional Institute for Geo-Spacial Information Science and Technology AFRIGIST (RECTAS) N 104,039,920
Grand Total                                                           N 617,853,474,192

5.20 Overhead Budget Proposal
a). Main Ministry of Works                           N 668,116,856.00
b). Parastatals:
i. FERMA                                                   N 22,027,209,696.
ii. RECTAS/AFRIGIST                                 NIL
          Grand Total                                      N 22,695,326,552

5.30 Personnel Cost Proposal
i. Main Ministry of Works                          N 12,598,351,319
ii. Parastatals                            N 4,081,099,533
             Grand Total                                N 16,679,450,852

Please note that without any presidential pronouncement, the following Parastatals which have been under the Ministry of Works have been provided for in the Budget Proposal for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as follows:
i.   Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF);
ii.   Federal School of Surveying, Oyo (FSS);
iii.   Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); and
iv.   Surveyors’ Council of Nigeria (SURCON)
It will be good that these Committees do get these Parastatals back to the Federal Ministry of Works.

6.0 CATEGORIZATION OF ONGOING HIGHWAY PROJECTS UP TO 2023

The Ministry undertook a total of 2,097of on-going/inherited projects at a total Contract Sum of N13,835,640,624,786. The total amount certified to date stood at N4,772,770,148,140.41, while the total amount paid was in the sum of N3,140,569,453,163,82 as at November, 2023. 3 details are shown in Annex I.

Some of the projects are categorized according to special funding mechanism as follows:

6.10   Highway Project Financed with Presidential Infrastructure Development FUND (PIDF).
A total of Four selected critical projects are being funded under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) Project which is managed by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). The projects are:
a.   Expansion and upgrading of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Section I (Lagos-Shagamu);
b.   Expansion and upgrading of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Section II (Shagamu-Ibadan);
c.   Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road; and
d.   Construction of 2nd Niger Bridge and two Bypasses at Asaba and Onitsha.

As at date, the total sum of N846, 365,489,635.12 has been certified out of the initial projects cost N1,535,375,595,518.43. This translates to a performance of 55.12%. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been substantially completed to about 90% but we still lack fund to complete the project. The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road is in three sections with about 127km uncompleted in section I (Abuja-Kaduna). Section II which is Kaduna-Zaria is fully completed and section III which is Zaria-Kano is on-going with 20km left uncompleted. The total cost of the three sections is about N655billion. The contractor is seeking for a review of contract to about N1.37trillion to complete the project. We are reviewing the request. However, even though the project will not get up to N1trillion when fairly reviewed, we believe that the unit rates ought to be reviewed. For example, the subsisting unit rate of Asphalt on the project is about N11,000 per square meter, whereas the real cost now is not less than N20,000 per square meter. We have requested the contractor to execute the first 40km of section I on concrete. It is important to note that we do not have fund to continue the project by February 2024 if no funding is injected into the project.

The 2nd Niger Bridge has been completed and was recently handed over to the Ministry. Additionally, there remains the construction of the Approach roads 2A and 2B which were awarded by FEC but have funding challenges to take-off. The remaining two Bypasses in Asaba (2A) and Onitsha (2B) awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynods Construction Company Nigeria Limited respectively, during the last Administration was initially estimated at about N200billion but now with inflation, the cost may be up to N260billion. There is no funding for these projects and the projects have not taken off. Let me note that without these Bypasses, the completed 2nd Niger Bridge will be almost inoperative. The details of these projects are as shown in Annexure II.

6.20 Highway Projects Financed with the Sovereign SUKUK Fund
The Federal Government through the Debt Management Office (DMO) initiated Sukuk Funding Programme for financing road infrastructure in 2017. The total sum of N683.122bn was raised to fund 25, 28, 44, 71 and 63 number projects in years 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. All the works milestones for the Sukuk in year 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021 were completely drawn down while the 2022 Sukuk, issued in the sum of N110,000,000,000.00 is on-going. A total of 63 selected critical projects are being funded under the 2022 Sovereign Sukuk Issuance. As at end of November 2023, the total sum of N50,537,288,079.45 was drawn down translating to a performance of 46%. The details of execution of the projects and drawdown of the 2022 Sukuk Bond is as shown on Annex III;

6.30 The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Funded Projects Phase I
The NNPC joined the Road Infrastructure Development & Refurbishment Tax Credit Scheme programme by undertaking to finance 21 roads in the sum of N621bn with total length of roads of about 1,804.6km under the NNPC Phase I. These roads were identified by key stakeholders such as the NNPC, Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTD) and the Ministry etc. as being crucial for the efficient distribution of petroleum products across the nation. As at date, the total drawdown forwarded to the NNPC Limited is in the sum of N247,729,252,899.54 out of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved sum of N621,237,164,794.59 representing 39.88% performance. The funding gap here due to inflation is estimated at over 250bn. The details of NNPC Phase I Funded Projects are attached as Annex IVA;

6.40 The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Funded Projects Phase II
The NNPC Phase II Funded Projects were approved by the Federal Executive Council in the sum of N1,969,700,168,910.78 for the execution of 44 No. roads with total length of 4,554.19km while the initial Contract Sum was about N3.969trillion. This leaves a funding gap of over N2trillion at the time of starting the projects. Presently, with inflation, the funding gap to have the NNPC Phases I & II completed shall stand at about N3.56trillion (Inflation about N1.5trillion) for two years from now. This funding gap is neither appropriated for nor has any source of funding. This means that without the kind intervention of this Distinguished and Honourable Joint Committees of Works, these projects will not go on mostly from March 2024 when the NNPC funding would have been exhausted. Your kind intervention and advice are highly, highly and urgently solicited. As at date, the total drawdown forwarded to the NNPC Limited is in the sum of N752,093,618,603.51 representing 38.18% performance. The level of drawdown seems low because most of the projects needed to be reviewed due to the inflation, The details of NNPC Phase II Funded Projects are attached as Annex IVB.

6.50 Other projects funded under Road Infrastructure Development & Refurbishment Tax Credit Scheme.
Several Companies have leveraged on the Executive Order No.7 of 2019 to commit investments in the construction/rehabilitation of roads and obtain Tax credit. Companies like NLNG Limited, Dangote Industries Limited, BUA International Limited, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited and GZI Industries projects have embraced the Road Infrastructure Development & Refurbishment Tax Credit Scheme program. Twenty-one projects at a total cost of N1.338trillion outside of those being funded by the NNPCL are being executed under this Scheme. The details are attached as Annex IVC; and
a) Projects funded from Multi – Lateral Loans.
4Nos. major highway and bridge projects are being funded through Multilateral Loans and grants from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the China Exim Bank. The details of these projects are attached as Annex V.

7.0 2023 APPROPRIATION OF ALL ONGOING EMERGENCY/SPECIAL REPAIRS AND LIMITED REHABILITATION PROJECTS

These are projects being executed under emergency repairs works along the Federal Highway network. The projects under this category have a total contract cost of N419,841,989,869.00, with a total amount certified in the sum of N307,486,496,856.58, while the total amount paid is in the sum of N 123,213,264,774.77, the Ministry is indebted to Contractors to the tune of N 184,273,232,081.81. The details of these projects are included in Annex I.

8.0 INTERVENTION ON TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS PROJECTS
These are projects being executed under the intervention in Federal Government Tertiary Institutions. Out of 108 projects under this category at a total contract cost of N15,641,954,804.16, 61 projects have been completed and handed over at a total cost of N10,790,866,435.35 as at end of November 2023. Twenty-one projects at a total cost of N3,874,482,841.53 have been completed awaiting handover, while the remaining 26 at a total cost of N3,491,998,752.77 are on-going. The details of these projects are attached as Annex VII.

9.0 OVERGROWN VEGETATION CONTROL PROJECTS
These are projects being executed under the intervention on Federal Government Tertiary Institutions. The projects under this category have a total contract cost of N2,333,448,750.00, with a total amount certified in the sum of N1,795,927,968.71, while the total amount paid is in the sum of N62,060,468.75, the Ministry is indebted to Contractors to the tune of N1,733,867,499.96. The details of these projects are included in Annex I.

10.0 PROJECTS PRIORITIZED FOR COMPLETION 2022-2024
In spite of all odds, 21 major road and bridge projects have been completed and some were commissioned, while others are ready for commissioning. The total cost of the completed major road and bridge projects is in the sum of N498,802,362,642.46 with a total length of 489. 97km. Also, to be completed in 2024 is the 260 Emergency Repair works in the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation at a total cost of about N260bn. The detail of completed projects is attached as Annex VI.

11.0 BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION/ REHABILITION PROJECTS
Under the 2023 budget, the Ministry undertook massive rehabilitation of bridge projects, some of which have never been maintained since they were constructed over 50 years ago. Human activities on these bridges (i.e. vandalization, fire incidents) have left these bridges in deplorable state and unserviceable conditions. The Ministry is trying to sustain these critical works in the 2024 budget as well as undertake the construction of new bridges where there was none in order to reduce travel time as well as the reconstruction of bridges to replace collapsed ones.

These projects are:
a).   Comprehensive Repairs of the damaged elements of the Third Mainland bridge superstructure: This was procured this year and works are currently ongoing and is satisfactory so far. The second Phase which involves the substructure repairs is being processed for award.
b).   Comprehensive emergency repairs of Eko and Marine bridges in Lagos State: Works are ongoing on these bridges. The Contractor has attained appreciable progress and is being supported financially to enable expeditious completion due to the emergency nature of the works.
c).   Proposed Rehabilitation of Carter, Iddo, Liverpool and Iganmu bridges in Lagos State: The present condition of the above bridges calls for urgent rehabilitation works to restore the bridge integrity and forestall further deterioration that may be detrimental to road users. In this regard, the procurement process is already ongoing within the Ministry for the emergency award of contract for the repairs/rehabilitation of these bridges.
d).   The Rehabilitation of Jimeta bridge in Adamawa State and Murtala Mohammed bridge at Koton Karfe along Lokoja – Abuja Road; Works on these bridges are ongoing and will soon be completed.
e).   Proposed construction of Shendam bridge in Plateau State, Reconstruction of failed bridges in Enugu State and the Construction of Buruku bridge in Benue State; and
f). Reconstruction of three failed Bridges on East/West Road

These are new bridges that are required to ameliorate the sufferings of the host communities as well as other commuters. Procurement of contract for the construction of these bridges are already at an advanced stage and will soon be completed. Funds will be needed to bring them into reality.

12.0 NEW PROJECTS IN 2024 BUDGET
There are new projects captured under the 2024 Budget at a total cost of N102,956,624,538.00. See Annexure 13

13.0 PROSPECTS AND PROSPECTS OF THE 2024 BUDGET FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS

The policy thrust regarding the 2024 budget for highway projects is to ensure completion of some critical on-going projects which have attained significant levels of completion while keeping the rest alive through minimal appropriation. 693 new projects have been proposed in the 2024 budget, which are critical to improving road network connectivity and thus enhancing traffic circulation on the Federal Road network, necessary for boosting socio-economic activities in the country. The primary objective is enabling the Ministry achieve its mandate in providing a quality Federal Road network that serves as an environment to aid socio-economic growth of the country.

The main challenge to highways development in the Country remains inadequate funding. As at date, Government is committed to highway contractors to the tune of about N13.835 trillion with a total of about N1,507,873,365,516.02 unpaid certificates for executed works. Secondly, the dearth of younger Engineers/Technical Officers in the Ministry as a result of embargo on employment is affecting effective project supervision at the sites. It is expected that more sources of funding of highway projects be explored as well as lifting the embargo on employment of needed Engineers/Technical officers at middle level to enhance supervision of projects. Our Ministry has set up six committees to review all debts, approved and unapproved variations on prices of basic rates, and all augmentations that occurred before May 29th 2023 and from May 30th 2023 till date.

14.0   RECOMMENDATIONS
14.10 From the fore-going, I would like to recommend as follows:
a)   The provision of an Emergency Fund of about 30% of the Budget Provision to cater for unforeseen emergencies that regularly occur on the road network especially during the rainy seasons;
b)   An increase of the Ministry’s present budgetary allocation to about N1.5tr to complete at least 10 selected critical roads and bridges in each of the six geo-political zones of the country;
c)   Urgent review of all certified debts to contractors and if possible, convert same to Promissory Notes to contractors so that we can get properly focused in using any fund appropriated to us to pursue the Ministry’s set objectives;
d)   Inflation- Many contractors are presently out of sites because they have exhausted their contract VoPs and needed the projects unit rates to be reviewed. It will be good that all VoPs and augmentations of all the projects are reviewed and those that are owed be converted to Promissory Notes, while unit rates regime will take effect on contractors in line with the current realities of the construction industry.
e)   More eligible companies should be encouraged to key into the Road Tax Credit Scheme to increase the number of private sector interventions. This means front-loading their tax liabilities to solve our present challenges;
f)   Raising of Bonds from the Capital Market to finance road development in the country;
g)   Creation of an enabling environment by fixing the roads so that the deployment of the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) can be effective; and
h)   That appropriations for projects be such that no projects when started should last for more than four years.

14.20 ISSUE OF ASPHALT (FLEXIBLE) VERSUS CONCRETE (RIGID) PAVEMENT
It would be my great pleasure to clarify the misunderstanding of the Ministry’s new policy direction regarding the use of Rigid pavement on her projects. I have to state categorically that no Contractor is prevented from executing the scope works originally signed with the client once certain conditions are observed, which are provision of a 15year shelf-life Insurance Guarantee for the works and a maximum of 5% of Variation of Price (VoP) in the Contract. The Ministry’s new policy is to prevent excessive augmentation of contracts considering the scarcity of Forex and weakening of the Naira against the Dollar which makes the cost of bitumen (which is fully imported) increase in geometric progression against the arithmetic progression rise in cement prices in concrete road pavements. In these times of rising inflation and scarce resources, the Country needs to look inwards to conserve foreign exchange.

15.0 COMMENDATIONS
We thank the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for the intervention of his Renewed Hope administration in the Works sub-sector and approval of an enhanced budget envelop for the Federal Ministry of Works. We also thank the leadership of National Assembly, the Chairmen and members of the Works Committees and indeed members of the National Assembly for their painstakingness in ensuring the speedy passage of the 2024 Appropriation Bill.

Nweze David Umahi
Federal Ministry of Works
December, 2023