Federal Ministry of Works

Oct

2026

LATEST PRESS

GORONYO COMMENDS SOKOTO GOVERNOR FOR DONATING 10 HILUX VEHICLES TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY ALONG SOKOTO–BADAGRY SUPERHIGHWAY

The Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., has commended the Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, PhD, for donating 10 operational Toyota Hilux vehicles to strengthen security operations along the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway and other strategic infrastructure corridors.

The vehicles were formally commissioned and handed over to the Nigerian Army at the Headquarters of the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, by the Honourable Minister of State for Works, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, FNSE.
The donation is expected to enhance the operational capacity of military personnel and other security agencies responsible for protecting construction workers, contractors, equipment and host communities along the highway corridor.

Speaking during the ceremony, Goronyo described the donation as a demonstration of the Sokoto State Government’s commitment to national development and the successful implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its landmark infrastructure projects.

The Minister emphasised that the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway represents a long-standing national infrastructure vision that dates back several decades, with its conception traced to the era of former President Shehu Shagari in the 1970s. However, the vision remained unrealised for decades until the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, initiated the construction of the 1,068-kilometre highway in October 2024.

He described the project as a significant step towards translating a historic aspiration into tangible infrastructure that will connect communities, expand economic opportunities and strengthen national integration.

According to Goronyo, President Tinubu’s commitment to the project demonstrates the Federal Government’s determination to bridge critical infrastructure gaps and improve connectivity between northern and southern Nigeria.
He noted that the superhighway, which traverses Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states, is designed to facilitate the movement of people and goods, reduce transportation costs, stimulate trade, create employment and open up new economic opportunities along its route.

The Minister added that the highway would improve access to markets, schools, healthcare facilities and other essential services while supporting agriculture, commerce, industry and the development of communities across the corridor.
He stressed that the successful delivery of the project would require sustained commitment, effective coordination and cooperation among the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies, contractors and host communities.

Goronyo maintained that effective security remained essential to the timely and successful completion of the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway. He explained that the provision of operational vehicles would strengthen the mobility and response capabilities of security personnel deployed to safeguard the project and its surrounding communities.

The Minister highlighted other strategic infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Federal Government, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the Calabar–Abuja/Trans-Saharan corridor, the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe corridor, the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano route and the Zaria–Gusau–Sokoto corridor.
He explained that these projects form part of the Federal Government’s broader commitment to developing an integrated road network capable of supporting commerce, strengthening inter-state connections and accelerating national economic growth.

Rt. Hon. Goronyo further noted that the use of continuously reinforced concrete pavement on the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway was intended to provide durable road infrastructure capable of serving Nigerians for decades. He added that complementary environmental and safety measures, including tree planting and solar-powered street lighting where provided for in the project, would contribute to environmental sustainability, visibility and road safety.

Goronyo commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their resilience, professionalism and sacrifices in protecting lives, property and critical national infrastructure. He acknowledged the difficult conditions under which security personnel operate and urged them to remain steadfast in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.

The Honourable Minister also expressed deep condolences to the Nigerian military over the reported loss of personnel in a bandit attack while on official duty the previous day. He described the loss as painful and extended his sympathy to the affected personnel, their colleagues and bereaved families, while praying for the peaceful repose of the departed and strength for their loved ones.

He further acknowledged the support of the National Security Adviser in addressing security challenges associated with the project, particularly through assistance and coordination aimed at strengthening security operations along the highway corridor.

Reaffirming his commitment to the Federal Government’s infrastructure development agenda, Goronyo said the Ministry of Works would continue to support the implementation of strategic projects under President Tinubu’s leadership, working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure their successful delivery.

He expressed optimism that the continued implementation of the Federal Government’s development programmes would bring lasting benefits to Nigerians, while acknowledging the complementary role of the Sokoto State Government in supporting infrastructure development and security.

In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Major General Bengba Paul Koughna, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Works and the Sokoto State Government for the donation of the 10 Hilux vehicles.

The GOC noted that the vehicles would significantly enhance the operational mobility and response capabilities of troops deployed along the highway corridor, particularly across the approximately 440-kilometre section extending through Sokoto and Kebbi states.

He explained that troops conduct regular patrols and maintain multiple deployment points along the corridor, making the additional vehicles a valuable boost to their operational effectiveness.

He assured the Minister that the vehicles would be deployed appropriately to support security operations and protect construction workers, contractors, equipment and other stakeholders involved in the project.

The GOC also commended the representative of Hitech Construction Company, retired General Sa'ad Abubakar, for the company's involvement in the project.

The event was attended by retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Aliyu Garba, officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, representatives of the Sokoto State Government and other stakeholders.
The donation underscores the importance of sustained collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies, contractors and host communities in addressing security challenges and ensuring the safe and timely delivery of strategic infrastructure projects.

The Federal Ministry of Works reiterates its commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to protect national infrastructure and advance the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR’s Renewed Hope Agenda for sustainable economic growth and development.

Aug

2025

FG PREPARES FOR ANTICIPATED ABUJA–LOKOJA FLOOD GORONYO DIRECTS FERMA TO REHABILITATE LOKO–OWETO–AGATU ROAD IN NASARAWA. The Honourable Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Bello Goronyo, Esq., has directed the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to immediately commence the rehabilitation of the Loko–Oweto–Agatu Road in Nasarawa State, as an alternative route for commuters. in case of the envisaged Abuja–Lokoja flooding. The directive was issued during a stakeholders’ engagement with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), The Minister further disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved several critical infrastructure initiatives, including the urgent rehabilitation of other strategic bridges such as the Carter Bridge, third Mainland Bridge, and Donga Bridge in Taraba State to strengthen Nigeria’s economic corridors and improve nationwide access for motorists. Speaking at the Minister’s Conference Room on Friday, 15th August 2025, Goronyo underscored the enormous workload of the Ministry, citing major routes such as Abuja–Lokoja, Abuja–Kaduna–Kano, Sokoto–Zaria, and many others across the North, South, East, and West. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, describing him as “the people’s president”, and lauded his inclusive leadership and unwavering prioritisation of infrastructure as a “key enabler of growth and development” under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He highlighted ongoing interventions, particularly the Legacy Projects, including Lagos–Sokoto, Lagos–Badagry, Lagos–Calabar, Ebonyi–Nasarawa–Abuja, and the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Trans-Sahara Route, stressing that no state has been left without road maintenance or construction under the current administration. He also applauded the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FANTE, for bringing engineering excellence and dedication to the Ministry’s projects. Reaffirming the Ministry’s determination to work tirelessly in delivering modern, safe, and durable infrastructure for all Nigerians, in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Goronyo acknowledged the need for public re-orientation on road usage and enjoined the leaderships of the two associations on dedication, accountability and selfless service to the masses. “Public office is a burden, and that burden must be discharged with full accountability. There is no time for comfort zones, you must work day and night to deliver on your mandate. This is not a position for enjoyment or status, but for tireless service to Nigerians,” Goronyo stated. Speaking, the MD/CEO of FERMA, Dr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, outlined the agency’s core focus namely; management of the road network with priority on economic corridors and addressing issues such as vandalism and overuse; and Data Collection, Updating Nigeria’s road corridor map with traffic statistics to guide maintenance planning. This, according to the Agbasi, was supported by a technical working group tasked with preparing a draft of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The President, NARTO, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, praised President Tinubu’s initiative on the delivery of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, 5 units of 50-seater buses, 20 units of 14-seater buses, and 50 units of 50 -seater buses, which have collectively reduced transportation costs for NARTO operations by over 30%. He also remarked the impact of the Ministry’s collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in enforcing axle load limits, revealing that, effective from 1st October, no truck will be allowed to load more than 45,000 litres, a move expected to reduce road damage and extend infrastructure lifespan. Similarly, IPMAN President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, pledged full support for the Ministry’s efforts, stating "even a blind man can see this government is doing its best to keep Nigerian roads in order. We stand fully behind your work.” Queenet Iheoma-Hart, For: Director, Press and Public Relations 15th August 2025 ...

Aug

2025

NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS(NSE) HINTS HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WORKS,SEN UMAHI ON SOCIETY'S FORTHCOMING ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, SEEKS COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT ON SHARED GOALS The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency,Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE has offered assurance of his collaborative support to the shared goals of the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE). He made this offer of partnership during the courtesy visit of the leadership of the organization led by its president, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala FNSE, which was held at the Honourable Minister’s office on 12th August 2025. The Honourable Minister alluded to the important role of the Nigerian Society of Engineers as an umbrella organization for engineers and commended the efforts of the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in enforcing strict standard and professional ethics among its members and in advancing the interest of the engineering profession in Nigeria. He described them as critical stakeholders in the Renewed Hope agenda of revolutionizing road infrastructure in Nigeria. He maintained that engineering best practices and creative innovations are the centrepiece of the policy direction of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. Earlier in her remarks,the president said the leadership of NSE was in his office to formally notify him about the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE) slated to hold in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State on 1st week of December 2025. It is noteworthy to mention that the leader of the delegation is the first female president in the history of the organization. Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji Special Adviser ( Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works ...

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 ...

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PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Nov

2025

OTHER NEWS

Jan

2022

Director Engineering, Olurinola Bows Out Of Service In Style

.... He is a Seasoned Engr - Perm Sec

Engineer Julius Sunday Olurinola, Director Engineering Services in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 meritoriously completed the mandatory 35 years in the Nigeria civil service and bowed out graciously. He joined the civil service as a Pupil Engineer in the Federal Ministry of Works in 1987.

Babangida Hussaini, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry described him as a seasoned engineer whom he has worked with for a period of about six years. Hussaini spoke during the send-forth reception organized for the retiring Director by the staff of the Department of Engineering Services of the ministry.

The Permanent Secretary said “I have worked with him and I must say I enjoyed his professionalism and timeliness in the manner he addressed some engineering issues in the Ministry.”

Hussaini commended Olurinola for his contribution to the Renewable Energy (on –grid) in the Ministry saying, “With this achievement and many others, you are leaving the service with your integrity and respect intact.” he said.

As an Engineer in the employ of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engineer Julius served as Director and Head of Department Engineering Services and Director (Electrical) in the same Engineering Services Department.

He held these positions all in the then Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

Engineer Olurinola, as Director Engineering Services was responsible among others for; overseeing design, specification of standards, preparation of contract document for all engineering projects in building services and engineering infrastructure for roads, electricity and water in public buildings and housing estates.

Goodwill messages and encomium were poured on him by Staff of the Ministry both serving and retired all pointing to his kindness, professionalism, commitment and versatile knowledge in the Built industry, roads and housing.

A former Retired Director of Engineering Services of the Ministry, Engr Sunday Umanah described Engineer Julius as a versatile engineer and a great achiever.

According to him, as a versatile engineer he represented the Ministry in several engineering for a creditably.

“He has at a point, represented the Ministry in the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Nigeria Energy Support Programme on Renewable Energy (on –grid), Energy Efficiency,” he said.

Engineer Olurinola was also involved in many adhoc assignments in the Ministry's projects namely: the Kuje prototype housing estate; 6 No. New Federal Secretariat Buildings in each of the geopolitical zones of the country; Prototype housing estate in Suleja, Niger State; Prototype housing estate, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos State and in the provision of Solar lighting system in slum upgrade project in Rivers and Kano States and many more.

In his response, Engineer Olurinola attributed his success to the support of the Honourable Minister, the Honourable Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. He said: “Their leadership, mentorship and guidance was the major boost that kept me on. I am very privileged to have served under their able leadership.”

To his colleagues and other staff of the Ministry, he said they were very supportive. “God has made them a special set of people for the support they have given me all through as a Director and Head of the Department.

SPEECHES

Mar

2021

The Highway Development Management Initiative Ministerial Notice Delivered By H.E Babatunde Raji Fashola, San At The Conference Hall Of The Ministry Of Works And Housing On Tuesday, 22nd March 2021

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our Permanent Secretary has already welcomed you all to this event, the official ministerial notice of the commencement of the Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI).

What remains for me to do is to get on with the business of issuing the notice for the HDMI to commence the procurement process; after a few preliminary remarks.

As you all know, one of the early initiatives of the Buhari administration was to improve the ease of doing business, and it is no secret that infrastructure was going to be an important driver of this initiative.

Since 2015, the administration has made no pretence about its commitment to improve the stock of infrastructure both in qualitative and quantitative terms in many sectors from roads and bridges, to rail, airports and seaports to mention a few.

Currently the government is executing over 700 different contracts which aggregates to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of over 13,000 km of roads and bridges across all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory.

As a result of the size of the undertaking, there is an increasing and unsatisfied demand for funding to finance these projects to completion and to maintain them.

There is also the need to finance other complementary services like weigh bridges, rest houses, towing vehicles and road furniture which seem better suited for the commercial initiative of the private sector.

In the interim, government is constrained to borrow, offer tax credit, increase her revenue mobilization capacities in order to sustain this massive infrastructure renaissance.

This is the background to the HDMI which is another effort to mobilize private capacity, resources, and entrepreneurship into the Nigerian highway sector; and hopefully convert roads from just social assets into assets of commercial opportunities and enterprise.

The HDMI is made up of 2 categories namely the Value-added Concessions (VAC) and the Unbundled Assets Approvals (UAA).

The UAA provides opportunity for small businesses to take advantage of the commercial opportunities that are available along the ROW while under the VAC the road pavement and entire right of way is concessioned for development and management by the concessionaire .

The VAC will be rolled out in phases, and this First Phase involves 12 roads namely:

1. BENIN – ASABA (125KM);

2. ABUJA – LOKOJA (193KM);

3. KANO – KATSINA (150KM);

4. ONITSHA – OWERRI – ABA (161KM);

5. SHAGAMU – BENIN (258KM);

6. ABUJA – KEFFI – AKWANGA (122KM);

7. KANO – MAIDUGURI (lot 1 Kano-Shuari 100KM ;

lot 2 Potiskum-Damaturu 96.24KM )

8. LOKOJA – BENIN (270KM);

9. ENUGU – PORT HARCOURT (200KM);

10. ILORIN – JEBBA (129KM);

11. LAGOS – OTA – ABEOKUTA (80KM);

12. LAGOS – BADAGRY (79KM)

These 12 roads were carefully chosen to ensure that each of the 6 (SIX) geo political zones are covered.

They aggregate in total to 1963.24 km which is 5.6% of the 35,000 km Federal road network.

The initial capital investments that we foresee is something in the order of NGN 1,134,690,048,000.76 and the employment potentials are an estimated 50,000+ direct jobs and 200,000+ indirect jobs.

The process started on the 17th June 2020 with legislative consultation to get parliamentary support and endorsement which I believe was successful and we are assured that if there is need for legislative support, the response will be reasonably swift.

It was followed by a Stakeholder consultation (webinar) which held on the 25th June, 2020 with Over 1,173 participants including critical stakeholders such as legislative representatives, representatives from the executive, prospective concessionaires, road users, media and industry experts; a market sounding session was also held on the 31st August, 2020 with 162 participants.

In the course of this journey, we have struck strategic partnerships with some high-profile brands who have offered their services in various aspects of the project development such as KPMG, UK NIAF, Lagos Business School etc.

We look forward to further exploring and strengthening these partnerships and the clear terms of the relationships will be notified to the public in due course as they are important to the success that we expect.

As published, not only has the right of way of the 12 roads been fully gazetted, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) , as a regulatory body for concessions of this nature, has issued the Certificate of Compliance for the Outline Business Case that is necessary to commence the process.

On the 3rd of March 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the highest executive decision-making organ of the Nigerian Federal Government was notified about the commencement of the procurement process.

In order to ensure competitiveness and to guarantee transparency, a procurement portal has been developed to serve as the interface with the public and manage the HDMI from Procurement to Implementation.

The portal will provide:

a. An interface that will provide the public all the information they need to know about the Initiative. It will give access to relevant documents, news updates, videos and so on;

b. E-procurement – The management of the PPP procurement process of the VAC and the process of approvals and permits under the UAA;

c. Vendor Market Place – This has specifically been included to promote local businesses and vendor partnerships with prospective concessionaires.

Therefore, let me say to all those who have been writing letters of inquiry, making offers of interest on the HDMI, offering to provide services like tolling, weigh bridge, rest houses and so on; we are sorry we cannot respond to those letters in order to maintain the integrity of this process and to keep the playing field level.

To all of you and to those who have not written or called, the day is now upon us, the venue is fixed and I have the pleasure to announce that the HDMI portal https://hdmi.worksandhousing.gov.ng/) will open on Monday the 29th March, 2021.

The portal will be open for all HDMI related functions as earlier stated and most importantly the RFQ application for the VAC which will be officially advertised on the same day.

Please visit the portal and I wish you all a very interactive and rewarding experience.

Let me repeat that all our transactions will be done through this portal and we will not entertain any personal inquiries to me or to any of our staff who have correspondingly been mandated not to entertain such requests.

Let me conclude by saying that we expect a vibrant process and a successful one that unleashes the commercial opportunities on Nigerian highways from paved roads, to clean and well-maintained highways, proper signage and route assurance signs, rest houses and commuter support for emergencies like vehicle towing and repairs.

We expect a splendid and safer commuting experience for all users of these roads as a result of the HDMI.

I thank all members of the Ministry and the ICRC and our partners especially KPMG and UKNIAF who worked tirelessly to bring us so far and urge them to prepare for more hard work in weeks and months ahead in order to bring this initiative to conclusion. More grease to their very hardworking elbows.

Thank you all.

Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN
Honourable Minister for Works and Housing