Federal Ministry of Works

Jun

2026

LATEST PRESS

UMAHI SHOWCASES FEDERAL PROJECTS IN EBONYI, SAYS SOUTHEAST IS GRATEFUL TO TINUBU AS EBONYI SET TO DEMONSTRATE ITS APPRECIATION TO THE PRESIDENT ON MONDAY

The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, on Saturday, June 13, 2026 led a Federal Government delegation headed by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on an inspection of ongoing federal road projects across Ebonyi State, using the occasion to highlight what he described as the unprecedented infrastructure transformation taking place under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking during the inspection, Umahi showcased several strategic federal projects across the state and the Southeast, explaining that the region remains deeply grateful to President Tinubu for the tangible evidence of inclusion, fairness and development.

At the Calabar - Abuja project sites, the Minister explained the strategic importance of a major flyover under construction along the Trans-Sahara Super Highway corridor.

“Let me say that this is the point where the Trans-Sahara Route takes a bend. The essence of this flyover is to resolve the conflict at this point,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government has already made provision in the 2026 budget to connect the corridor directly to the Ebonyi State capital.

“The road going to the capital city, which is 18km from this point, is included in the 2026 budget, and the Federal Government will undertake the connection to the city centre.”

Umahi stressed that despite funding challenges, work would continue uninterrupted across project sites.

“Of course, the contractor has not been paid, but we are creditworthy. All contractors being owed will be paid. There should be no stoppage of work because we want to see if we can commission this project by December. The cost is ₦25 billion.”

The Minister described the projects as only a glimpse of what President Tinubu is delivering in the Southeast.

“This is just the beginning. You will see remarkable projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South-East. When we talk about the gains of the South-East under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some people who do not understand what we are talking about will continue to criticize us.”

He declared that the people of the Southeast have taken notice of the President’s interventions and are prepared to openly express their appreciation.

“The people of the South-East are very appreciative of what the President is doing. By Monday, under the leadership of the Governor of Ebonyi State, we will demonstrate this appreciation when we adopt the President as our sole candidate and, of course, the Governor.”

Umahi was emphatic about the region’s political direction.

“Let it be known that Ebonyi State is not obedient because we want to catch up with the rest of the country, and we will never be obedient. What happened before was an accident of history. It will not repeat itself.”

The Minister also provided updates on the flagship Trans-Sahara Super Highway, revealing that a ₦668 billion contract has already been awarded and construction is progressing steadily despite the rainy season.

“The project is about 28% completed. We are not stopping because of the rains. Work continues, especially with President Bola Tinubu’s concrete road technology.”

Tracing the history of the corridor, Umahi said the project was originally conceived during the colonial era but remained unrealized for decades.

“We presented the concept to the President, a man divinely called to do the impossible. What was once a colonial dream is now being realized more than sixty years later.”

He described the highway as a critical economic route that will connect Nigeria to neighbouring countries while unlocking agricultural and industrial opportunities across the country.

“The President is fulfilling that vision, and I am very happy because this is a major trade corridor. It connects us to Cameroon and serves as a transport route for rice-producing areas in Cross River, Benue, and Ebonyi States.”

Highlighting the broader economic vision behind the President’s infrastructure agenda, Umahi said the four legacy projects of the Tinubu administration are far more than roads.

“As I have always said, the four legacy projects of Mr. President are not merely road construction projects; they are investments.”

Drawing comparisons with advanced economies, he explained that infrastructure investment remains one of the most effective tools for stimulating economic growth.

“Infrastructure investment is critical. In countries such as the United States, whenever there is an economic downturn, governments invest heavily in roads and bridges because such investments stimulate growth across other sectors of the economy. That is exactly what the President is doing.”

He further pointed to visible projects already completed or nearing completion across Ebonyi and neighbouring states, including major bridges, flyovers, dual carriageways and the Dangote Tax Credit Road Project.

“We are grateful to the President and pleased with the work being done by our Governor.”

Reaffirming the Southeast’s support for President Tinubu, Umahi said the region now sees clear evidence of inclusion in federal infrastructure investments.

“The South-East has been included. Inclusiveness, fairness and equity are what we have always sought, and today we can point to tangible evidence of that inclusion.”

The Minister also noted that having a Minister of Works from the Southeast has helped ensure the region’s needs receive the attention they deserve.

“Without a Minister of Works from the South-East, we might not have secured all that has been achieved.”

He added:

“We can proudly say that while we may not be the first beneficiaries of federal road investments, we are certainly no longer the last.”

Providing updates on President Tinubu’s four signature legacy projects, Umahi highlighted progress on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja Corridor and other strategic national routes.

According to him, the administration’s infrastructure programme is designed to create jobs, support agriculture, expand regional trade, attract industries and unlock new economic opportunities nationwide.

“The four legacy projects are investments designed to transform the Nigerian economy.”

He explained that plans along the corridors include dams, irrigation systems, power infrastructure, agricultural settlements, housing developments, factories, hotels and renewable energy facilities.

“The benefits are extensive and include both direct and indirect employment opportunities for Nigerians.”

The Minister ended with a strong endorsement of President Tinubu’s leadership.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, God brought you. God will continue to guide and preserve you. We stand with you for the years ahead.”

Addressing contractors handling federal projects in the state, Umahi reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to quality and durability.

“The moment you do not execute the work properly, it will be obvious. If you do it well, it will reward you. The method is the same, the principle is the same, and the quality is the same. We are using Grade 40 concrete.”

He revealed that the 51-kilometre Okposi-Ohaozara-Ukawu-Cross River road project, valued at ₦53 billion, is nearing completion, with one section already over 90 percent completed and another at about 60 percent completion.

The Minister further disclosed that the Federal Government has included the extension of the road to Akam in the 2026 budget, where the newly approved South-East Army Depot is located.

He added that additional contractors are already working along the Enugu axis and that a new flyover has also been planned at Okposi to improve traffic flow and enhance connectivity in the area.

Dec

2016

Public Private Partnership, A Panacea To Housing Deficit In Nigeria- Fashola The Honourable Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN has reiterated the importance of synergy between the Federal Government and the Private sector in the built industry in the provision of mass housing to Nigerians. He said the Federal government must find a way to exploit the Private Sector participation in the industry especially in the area of local content manufacturing of building materials, noting that it would aid in the reduction of prices of the materials and subsequently the cost of the houses. He made this known during an inspection visit to some selected sites and Polysterene manufacturing company in Abuja. He said the visit was a follow up to the claims by some sponsors in the built industry during the Affordable Housing Summit held in Abuja earlier in the year that they had all the machineries to partner with the Federal Government in delivering affordable mass housing to Nigerians. The Minister who expressed satisfaction with what he saw on ground, noted that the concepts of acceptability and affordability were significant and must be factored into any system the Federal Government intends to adopt in the sector, adding that the low and middle income earners in Nigeria may not be interested in most of the houses available on ground at the moment, though beautiful and accepted but because they are mostly not affordable and said government was committed to initiate policies that would address the situation. At the Citec building and manufacturing factory in Mbora district, Abuja. The minister who was conducted round the factory by the Managing Director, Barrister Oluwadare Bello, inspected EPS Polystyerene, a building raw material made from petrochemical products and is being used to construct facials used in deckings for storey buildings. Other building materials included, wire mesh which acts as load bearing on the wall and sandwich for constructing portakabins. The company also manufactures doors and windows. The Minister said more companies using polystyerene would be encouraged as houses built with it are cheaper, noise proof, self fire extinguishing and does not need the use of air conditioners because it regulates the weather, adding that for the concept of acceptability and affordability to be meaningful to Nigerians, government must do its best to bring down the cost of owning a house. He said as part of efforts to assist Nigerians own houses with less burdens, the Federal Mortgage Bank has been repositioned to better perform its statutory function so that government on its part would concentrate more on ensuring the provision of acceptable housing designs. The Minister also visited building sites including: Braines and Hammers at Life Camp and Galadimawa, Sunny Vale at Logokoma and Rockvale at Gudu. He expressed satisfaction that Nigerian youths were being engaged at the sites in various trades such as masons, building sewage plants, iron mongering, and so on, noting that it has shown that the built sector is important in reducing the unemployment rate in the country. ...

Dec

2016

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