UMAHI CHAIRS ECOWAS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING IN TOGO, ADVANCES TINUBU’S REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE VISION The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, on Friday, October 30, 2026, is attending the 23rd Ministerial Steering Committee Meeting of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project in Lomé, Togo, where he serves as Chairman of the Steering Committee. The meeting brings together key stakeholders from participating countries and development partners to review progress on one of West Africa’s most significant regional infrastructure projects, aimed at improving connectivity, facilitating trade, strengthening economic cooperation and promoting shared prosperity across the region. As Chairman of the Steering Committee, Sen. Umahi is providing leadership at a critical stage of the project, which is expected to strengthen transportation links among countries along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor and improve the movement of people, goods and services across national borders. Ahead of the ministerial meeting, the 23rd Technical Meeting of the Committee of Experts, comprising the project directors and engineers, was held on October 26 and 27, 2026. The experts reviewed progress across all project components and discussed strategies for advancing the technical studies required for the successful delivery of the highway. Their deliberations also covered the project’s right-of-way, a critical requirement for construction activities; the continued operationalisation of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA); and progress in mobilising investment financing by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project’s Mandatory Lead Arranger (MLA). The experts further assessed complementary projects and activities being undertaken by other development partners to support the integrated development of the corridor. At the ministerial level, the Steering Committee is expected to receive, consider and adopt the report and recommendations of the 23rd Technical Meeting of the Committee of Experts. This will provide an opportunity for the ministers to review the technical team’s findings, deliberate on outstanding issues and agree on the next steps required to move the project forward. The African Development Bank will also present an update, in its capacity as Mandatory Lead Arranger, on the status of investment financing mobilisation for the project. The Steering Committee will deliberate on the presentation and provide feedback on the progress made and the actions required to advance the financing process. In addition, the ALCoMA Board of Directors will present the reports and recommendations of its first and second Board meetings for consideration by the Steering Committee. The ministers will deliberate on the submissions and consider and approve relevant resolutions where necessary to strengthen coordination, improve implementation and ensure sustained progress on the project. Under President Tinubu’s administration, the Federal Ministry of Works, led by Senator Umahi, has continued to pursue infrastructure development as a strategic tool for unlocking economic opportunities and improving connectivity. The Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project is a major regional undertaking designed to strengthen links between West African economies. Its successful implementation is expected to support trade, ease cross-border transportation and deepen economic integration among participating countries. ...

TINUBU CAMPAIGN CURTAIN-RAISER: KADUNA RALLY SHOWCASES RENEWED HOPE INFRASTRUCTURE GAINS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST — President Tinubu Seeks Continuity as Umahi Highlights Road Infrastructure Progress; Seven APC Governorship Flag Bearers Receive Party Flags* Kaduna became a major centre of political mobilisation and infrastructure advocacy on Saturday, October 24, 2026, as supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, converged on the Kaduna Township Stadium for the flag-off of the North West Zonal Presidential Campaign that placed the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope infrastructure agenda at the heart of the political engagement. The Political Rally brought together party leaders, governors, lawmakers, political mobilisers, traditional rulers, youths, women’s groups and supporters from different parts of the country to canvass support for continuity, highlight government achievements and project the administration’s development agenda ahead of the 2027 General Elections. Addressing the mammoth crowd, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, urged eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the forthcoming electoral process. He called for support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) party at all levels, declaring, “Vote APC from top to bottom, APC everywhere.” The President reaffirmed his commitment to national development, promising to continue infrastructure delivery and other laudable programmes aimed at improving Nigerians' welfare and prosperity. He also commended governors, the youths, traditional rulers and other stakeholders for their contributions to national development. At the centre of the infrastructure advocacy was the Honourable Minister of Works and Deputy Director-General, Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation, of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, who highlighted the scale of the Federal Government’s road development programme, the progress recorded and the importance of infrastructure investment to economic growth, particularly in the North West Zone. According to figures presented by the Minister, the Federal Government had completed 348 kilometres of inherited and newly initiated road projects, while the total length of ongoing projects stood at 4,084 kilometres. He further reported that partially completed projects accounted for 1,811 kilometres. These figures illustrate the scale of the Federal Government’s road infrastructure drive, reflecting progress in project delivery, while highlighting the substantial work still required to expand and improve the country’s road network. The completion of inherited and new projects represents progress in translating infrastructure commitments into usable roads that can provide tangible benefits to road users and communities. The 4,084 kilometres of ongoing projects represent a substantial pipeline of infrastructure investments, whose successful completion will strengthen connectivity between states, commercial centres, agricultural communities and major economic hubs. Similarly, the 1,811 kilometres of partially completed projects underscore the importance of sustained funding, effective supervision, timely execution and continuity to bring unfinished infrastructure to fruition. In the North West, road infrastructure is particularly important because of the Zone’s extensive agricultural activities, commercial networks, and the movement of people and goods across state boundaries. The Minister opined that “improved roads reduce transportation difficulties, facilitate trade, strengthen agricultural supply chains, create employment and improve access to essential services. They also help farmers transport produce to markets more efficiently, enable traders to move goods at lower cost and connect rural communities to larger economic centres.” Among the key road interventions highlighted was the Outstanding Sections of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, a strategic transport corridor linking the Federal Capital Territory with major commercial and agricultural centres in Kaduna and Kano States. Umahi’s presentation identified the 118-kilometre, Lot 1 of the Expressway among the key completed project interventions, with Kano’s 30 kilometres and the 81-kilometre Tungan Maje-Jere alignments commissioned. The Expressway is particularly important to the Zone due to the economic relationship between Kaduna and Kano, two major commercial and industrial centres, as well as their connections to Abuja and other parts of the country. “Improved road conditions along this corridor will facilitate passenger movement, strengthen trade, support the distribution of agricultural produce and manufactured goods, reduce vehicle operating costs and improve transportation efficiency for businesses and commuters,” he noted. The Minister also reported road construction interventions in Kano State, including the Northern Bypass, Dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri Road, Section I (Kano-Shuwarin) and the Yakasai–Badume–Damargu–Marken Jalli Road. Such interventions are important for improving access within communities, connecting rural settlements to larger markets and supporting local economic activities and growth. Sustained investment in road infrastructure has the potential to strengthen links between agricultural production areas and urban markets, improve commercial activities and support the movement of goods, and services between Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States. More reliable transport connections also help businesses reach wider markets, improve the distribution of essential commodities, and services, and encourage investment in communities, where poor roads have stunted socioeconomic growth. Road construction can generate direct employment for engineers, technicians, construction workers and other professionals, while creating indirect opportunities for suppliers, transport operators, traders and local businesses. In the longer term, improved connectivity can help reduce logistical barriers, enhance the competitiveness of local enterprises and support economic activities across the region. The significance of these infrastructure investments, however, depends on timely completion, adherence to engineering standards, transparent management of public resources and effective maintenance. These measures are essential to ensuring that completed roads remain safe and serviceable and that ongoing projects translate into lasting benefits for communities. His Excellency, Vice President (Senator) Kashim Shettima, GCON, also highlighted the administration’s development strides across Northern Nigeria, drawing attention to road infrastructure, agriculture, regional connectivity and the expansion of economic opportunities and frontiers. He commended President Tinubu for recognising the infrastructure challenges confronting the North and prioritising interventions intended to address them. According to him, improved road networks are essential for connecting farmers to markets, facilitating commercial activities, and promoting inclusive development. The Vice President expressed confidence in the continued political support of Northern Nigeria, assuring the President of the region’s solidarity ahead of the 2027 elections. Kaduna State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, urged citizens to assess government performance through verifiable achievements and tangible development outcomes rather than relying solely on narratives circulating on social media. He encouraged the electorate to examine completed projects, ongoing interventions, and fulfilled commitments, while calling for continued support for the administration’s development agenda. Similarly, the Director-General, 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Senator Abdulaziz Yari, urged political stakeholders and supporters, particularly in Northern Nigeria, to reject misinformation and promote constructive political campaigning and participation. He maintained that leadership should be assessed through commitments, performance, and delivery, with infrastructure and public welfare remaining central to any political discourse. A major highlight of the gathering was the presentation of APC flags to the seven (7) Governors from the Zone seeking re-election. The flags were presented by the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, symbolising the party’s preparations and mobilisation ahead of the forthcoming general elections. The Ceremony brought together party leaders, APC Governors across the country, lawmakers, traditional and opinion leaders, and other stakeholders, underscoring the party’s efforts to consolidate its political gains and structures, across the Zone and beyond.  President Tinubu was accompanied by his wife,  Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Vice President, his wife, Her Excellency, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima; Governors, lawmakers, and other senior party officials. Beyond its political significance, the Kaduna Rally provided a veritable platform for presenting the Renewed Hope Administration’s infrastructure priorities and highlighting progress on inherited and new road projects. The reported completion of 348 kilometres of road projects, alongside 4,084 kilometres of ongoing ones and 1,811 kilometres of partially completed projects in the Zone, reflects both the scale of infrastructure development and the work that remains to be done. For the North West Zone, the practical importance of road infrastructure lies in its capacity to improve mobility, strengthen agricultural, commercial and industrial supply chains, facilitate regional trade and expand access to essential services. “The successful delivery of these projects requires consistent supervision, adequate funding, transparent implementation and sustainable maintenance to ensure that infrastructure investments provide lasting value,” Engr. Umahi declared. As the Renewed Hope infrastructure agenda continues to feature prominently in the administration’s political messaging ahead of the 2027 General Elections, the central consideration remains the extent to which it delivers measurable improvements in the lives of people and businesses across the region. The Campaign, therefore, serves both as a platform for political mobilisation and an opportunity to highlight the Federal Government’s road infrastructure priorities and interventions. Ultimately, the value of these investments will be measured by the roads completed and maintained, the communities they connect, and the difference they make to transportation, commerce, agricultural productivity, and economic development across the region. ...

FG COMMISSIONS 30.58-KM SECTION OF ABUJA–KANO EXPRESSWAY, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO COMPLETING INHERITED PROJECTS The Federal Government has commissioned an outstanding 30.58 kilometres of road works along the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria-Kano Expressway, marking another significant milestone in the Tinubu administration’s drive to complete critical infrastructure projects inherited from the previous administrations. The Commissioning Ceremony, held in Kano State on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, was performed by the Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, FNICE, FIML, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, said the completed road demonstrated President Tinubu’s commitment to delivering strategic infrastructure, strengthening national connectivity, and facilitating the movement of people, agricultural produce, and other goods across the country. Engr. Umahi explained that substantial portions of the Expressway remained unfinished when the present administration assumed office, following challenges associated with escalating costs and a slow pace of construction, which led to the termination of the previous contract. He stated that President Tinubu subsequently directed the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritise the completion of the outstanding sections to ensure that the critical route was delivered to the required standards of quality, safety and durability. According to the Minister, the President also directed that the Kano section of the Expressway be extended to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). He disclosed that Lot 1 of the project, covering 118 kilometres at an estimated cost of ₦252 billion, had been completed. He also highlighted the administration’s adoption of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) technology on substantial portions of the road to improve durability, reduce maintenance requirements, and ensure better value for public investment. He added that the completed section, along with the installation of solar-powered streetlights, improved road conditions, enhanced visibility at night, and provided motorists with safer, more comfortable travel. Describing the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria-Kano Expressway as a strategic national asset, the Minister noted that it connects the Federal Capital Territory to major commercial and population centres in Northern Nigeria. He stressed that “its importance extends beyond the North-West Zone, as it supports trade, commerce, haulage and other economic activities, and social interaction, across the country.” The Minister also highlighted ongoing Federal road projects across the North-West, including the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, Kano Northern Bypass, Kano–Katsina, Zaria–Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto, and the Dualisation of Section I of the Kano-Maiduguri Roads, among others. He commended Governor Yusuf for his commitment to infrastructure development and people-oriented governance in Kano State. He also appreciated the Contractor, Consultants, Supervising Engineers, Security Agencies and other Stakeholders for their contributions to the successful delivery of the alignment. Engr. Umahi urged Nigerians to appreciate the importance of sustained investment in infrastructure, noting that efficient road networks are essential to trade, commerce, national integration and economic development. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to complete all ongoing road projects across the six geopolitical zones, emphasising that quality road infrastructure remains fundamental to national development, economic growth and social integration. “President Tinubu rightly deserves our votes to continue the good works,” he advised Nigerians. His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for prioritising the completion of the strategic project. He said the road would strengthen transportation links, support commercial activities, improve accessibility and facilitate the movement of people and goods within Kano and neighbouring States. The Governor described the road as an important development for Kano State and the wider North-West Zone, commending the Federal Government for intervening to ensure that the outstanding road works were completed rather than abandoned. Earlier, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., described the commissioning as a component of the Federal Government’s infrastructure development programme. He commended President Tinubu for providing the political will, leadership and policy direction required to advance the completion of inherited road projects. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Kano State Government and other stakeholders towards improving infrastructure and expanding economic opportunities in the State. As part of activities marking the occasion, the Minister also commissioned two urban road projects executed by the Kano State Government under its urban renewal programme. The projects comprised the Rehabilitation of Audu Bako Way, and the Dualisation of Nassarawa Hospital Roads. The projects were recognised as complementary interventions aimed at improving urban mobility, easing traffic congestion and enhancing transportation within Kano metropolis and beyond. The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Muhammed Aminu Ahmed, FCNA, said the commissioning reflects the administration’s recognition of infrastructure as a key driver of economic growth, employment generation and national integration. He commended the Honourable Minister of Works for “his leadership and engineering expertise,” while appreciating the Kano State Government, Contractors, Consultants, Supervising Engineers and Security Agencies for their cooperation and support in delivering the project. Providing a background and technical insight to the project, the Director, Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. David Yiltong, and the Engineer’s Representative (E.R.), Engr. Chukwuma Kalu Igwe, explained that the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria-Kano Expressway is one of Nigeria’s most important Federal Highways, connecting the Federal Capital Territory to major commercial, historic, administrative and political centres in Northern Nigeria. The Highways Director stated that the commissioned works include completed asphaltic pavement at Kano’s end and an additional one along the Karfi and Kunkumi Axis, bringing the total length to 30.58 kilometres. Engr. Yiltong explained that the completed works had improved the condition of the road, reduced travel discomfort, enhanced traffic flow, and improved access to communities and commercial centres along the corridor. He added that the improved carriageway and streetlighting infrastructure would contribute to safer journeys, better nighttime visibility, and more efficient transportation. According to Engr. Igwe, the scope of work covers pavement construction and rehabilitation, asphalt surfacing, drainage works, improvements to road structures, installation of streetlights, CCTV Cameras and other associated infrastructure. In separate Goodwill Messages delivered during the occasion, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, commended President Tinubu for ensuring the completion of the Outstanding Sections of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria-Kano Expressway. He described it as a vital link for Kano State, whose historic commercial and industrial significance makes an efficient road network indispensable. He also commended the Ministers of Works for their leadership and contributions to the delivery of the project. The Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, hailed the President for providing the political will to surmount longstanding infrastructure challenges across Nigeria. He described the appointment of Engineer Umahi as a strategic decision, noting that the Minister’s engineering background and doggedness had helped advance the completion of critical road projects. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North West Zone, Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, commended the Federal Government and the Kano State Government for their efforts towards infrastructure development. He observed that the engineering backgrounds of both Minister Umahi and Governor Yusuf provided a common platform for advancing infrastructure development at the Federal and State levels. Also, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, OON, commended President Tinubu for providing the resources and political commitment required to complete major infrastructure projects initiated by previous administrations, particularly projects started under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. The revered traditional ruler dismissed claims that the Tinubu administration was working against the interests of Northern Nigeria, stating that the completion of major infrastructure projects demonstrated the President’s commitment to national development and the progress of the region. He also expressed support for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, describing the President as a leader committed to Nigeria’s development. The Federal Ministry of Works reaffirmed its commitment to the timely completion of critical federal road projects in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the objective of strengthening national connectivity, supporting economic growth, facilitating commerce, and improving the quality of life of Nigerians. Among the Dignitaries that graced the well-attended memorable occasion were the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau, OON, CFR, the Hon. Minister of  State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, former Governors, Legislators, and representatives of the Emirs of Kano and Zazzau Emirates.   ...