Federal Ministry of Works

BREAKING NEWS

Jul

2025

STATEMENT OF SEN. KWANKWASO THAT THE NORTH IS MARGINALIZED ON ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER PRESIDENT TINUBU’S ADMINISTRATION, ABSOLUTELY FALSE, MISLEADING AND SELF-SERVING.

My attention as Honourable Minister of Works has been drawn to the unfortunate statement by His Excellency, Sen. Kwankwaso that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is developing more roads in the South than in the North.

2. I consider this statement as a grave misleading information made intentionally to deceive our brothers and sisters in the North and to pretend that he loves the North more than any other leader from the North. I consider Sen. Kwankwaso’s statement as statement made out of desperation and as part   of his struggle with few others who believe that they can inherit the impeccable legacy of our dear late President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR and that the only way available for them towards achieving same is to be divisive and pretentious. Trying to be like our late President Buhari cannot be a job of three decades and can not be done with deceit. I think our younger generation has such a chance and which must be worked for through hard work, honesty, transparency and commitment to the unity of our country , a legacy that our late President Buhari, GCFR achieved in all his life on earth. May God continue to bless his legacies and give him a peaceful rest, Amen

3. For the interest of all Nigerians, especially our dear brothers and sisters in the North, I wish to highlight just a few key ongoing projects in each of the six Geo-Political Zones.

4. The four legacy projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR:
a) Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is 750 km: As of today, a total of 110 km is ongoing within Lagos State and 65 km within Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. The total ongoing is 175 km by 6 lanes or 350 km by 3 lanes in the South.
b) The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, which is 1068km: As of today, we have 258 km ongoing at Kebbi section and 120 km ongoing at Sokoto section. Total ongoing is 378 km by 6 lanes or 756 km by 3 lanes in the North.
c) Trans Sahara road spanning through Cross River - Ebonyi - Benue - Kogi - Nasarawa - Abuja, which is 465km: 118 km by 3 lanes or 59 km by 6 lanes is ongoing in Ebonyi State - South.
d) Akwanga - Jos - Bauchi – Gombe road, which is 439km: Project is being redesigned from flexible pavement to rigid pavement for more durable pavement as directed by Mr. President and to conform to the other legacy projects. In the four legacy projects, the North has 52% and South 48%. Within the ongoing projects as of today, the South has 409 km by 3lanes and the North has 756km by 3 lanes . The facts are there. I wonder why people don’t talk about other legacy projects of Mr. President but will always dwell on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This road has only 220 km by 3 lanes in Lagos State that is ongoing now , crossriver and Akwaibom has 130km by 3 lanes that is ongoing whereas kebbi alone has 316 km by 3 lanes that is ongoing. Sokoto has 240 km by 3 lanes that is ongoing . I think Sen. Kwankwaso is not fair to Mr.President and the unity of our country

5. The following major projects are also ongoing in the North.
a) Sokoto - Zamfara - Katsina - Kaduna road: This is 275 km dualized (750 km), costing about ₦824 Billion. This project is being handled by CBC, Triacta, Setraco, and Mothercat. Projects are ongoing mostly on reinforced concrete pavement. Despite the insecurity within this corridor, work is ongoing.
b) Abuja - Kaduna - Kano road: 350 km dualized (700km) project is being constructed on concrete pavement with a total sum of ₦764 Billion with Infiouest Nig Ltd and 30% of the contract sum already paid and work is ongoing.
c) BUA Tax Credit road passing through Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano States: 256 km dualized (512 km). Project redesigned and constructed on rigid pavement.
d) 156 km of Zaria - Hunkuyi road is being constructed by mothercat Nig Ltd.
e) The Kano Northern Bypass: 49 km is being constructed by CCECC.
f) The 100.9 km dualized (201.8 km) Kano - Jigawa road is being constructed by Triacta.
g) The Bama and Dikwa roads (49+51= 100 km) by Dangote Tax Credit are ongoing in Borno State
h) The Borno Ring Road: 110 km is being constructed by CCECC.
i) The 76 km Malando road in Kebbi State is being constructed by Episolyn Nig Ltd.
j) The 250 km dualized (500 km) Benue to 9th Mile road costing $958 Million by China Harbour is ongoing.
k) The dualization of Lokoja - Okene 86km dualized (172km) by CGC is ongoing.
l) The sections 1 and 2 of Kaduna to Katsina roads by CCECC costing about ₦150 Billion is ongoing.

6. Major ongoing projects in the South:
a) Completion of Lagos - Ibadan 8.5 km costing ₦33 Billion by RCC.
b) completion of Lagos to Sagamu 12 km dualized (24 km) and flyovers by CBC costing
c) completion of Oyo - Ogbomoso to Ilorin Road costing ₦146 Billion by JRB
d) Repairs of Carter bridge, Third Mainland bridge, Eko bridge with total contract sum of about ₦120 Billion
e) In South East, we have:
   i. Completion of Enugu - Onitsha road by MTN tax credit which is 107 km costing ₦202 Billion.
ii. Completion of Enugu - Onitsha road by CBC, which is 72 km costing ₦150 Billion.
  iii. Enugu - Abakaliki 36 km road by reinforced global resources
iv) 2nd Niger bridge access road in Anambra State, 17.5 km dualized with many bridges and flyovers - ₦175Billion by CGC Vii ) the completion of 61km dualized of lokpanta in Imo state to Enugu state by CGC costing 100bn
f.) In South - South:
i. Completion of Eleme - Onne road project, which is 30 km with bridges and flyovers costing ₦156 Billion.
   ii. Eket bypass road of 9.7 km dualized costing ₦76 Billion
    iii. Completion of East West Road section 2 which is ₦186 Billion by Setraco
     iv. Nembe Brass road costing ₦150 Billion.
v) completion of Lokoja to Benin road by four contractors costing about ₦167 Billion
vi) 2nd Niger bridge access road in Delta 17 km dualized by CCECC costing ₦146 Billion.
Vii) completion of Bodo Bonny Road in rivers state 35 km with 12 bridges by julius Berger nig plc costing 200bn
7. I have a duty in the coming week to publish all inherited projects and new projects that are either completed or ongoing in this present administration . I can say with all sense of responsibility that President Tinubu is a fair President. He has favoured the North in road development more than the South, especially North West, where Sen. Kwankwaso comes from. Apart from these four legacy projects, 80% of the above named ongoing projects were projects awarded by the past administration towards the end of that administration in 2023 but never took off effectively which President Tinubu decided to continue to fund towards completion. If he had abandoned them, same people will complain. I have been under pressure by some stakeholders for the construction of their major roads like the abandoned Ibadan - Oyo by Arab contractor , Ibadan - Ife - Ilesa, Ilesa - Akure - Benin and Ore - Sagamu road. I have been badly accused that I am only doing projects in the North, especially North West. Third Mainland bridge is being closed down to heavy trucks because of underwater structural defects. The Carter bridge is so deformed that it needs to be removed and reconstructed. These are the real major projects in South West which I have been appealing to Mr President to give me money to do those projects because the people of South West may think that I am doing nothing about the major projects in their zone. These projects are projects that are within major economic corridor between the South and the North and deserve attention. Again, these bridges if allowed to further deteriorate will lead to serious economic consequences for the nation. Mr president is not only fair in completion of major inherited projects/ new projects but they are all within the major economic corridor of our nation. I will publish all ongoing projects which are above 20 billion naira each next week . We still have many projects within the six geopolitical zones that are not listed here . In this circumstance, I don’t know where Sen Kwankwaso got his misinformation from.

8. It is unfortunate that the utterances of some of our political leaders are just intended to deceive Nigerians and gain political favour instead of making statements that will unite the country and move her forward

9. I will offer more explanation on this topic and ready to face a debate with anyone just to put the records straight.

10. Let me say that in the ongoing NNPCL Tax Credit roads and bridges as inherited, the North has 53% while the South has 47% out of which South East has only 4% and South West only 5%. The records are there with NNPCL . Mr. President did not complain about the unfair distribution of these inherited projects by the past administration but has continued to fund all the projects as inherited.

11. To my brother senator Kwankwaso, you owe our president Tinubu an apology and a duty to withdraw your statement using the information I have provided herein for the benefit of Nigerians and the unity of the nation.

12 I request the good people of Nigeria to ignore senator kwakwanso misleading statement and know that President Tinubu is fairly committed to developing every part of this country with fairness, equity and the fear of God

Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE
Honourable Minister of Works

LATEST PRESS

Jul

2025

Minister of State for Works Visits Kaduna-Abuja Expressway on Presidential Directive -Pledges Immediate Emergency Repairs In line with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR's Renewed Hope Agenda, the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., on the directive of Mr. President, undertook an urgent inspection visit to the critical portion of the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway. The affected stretch, approximately 500 meters by the Federal Cooperative College at Abuja Junction in Kaduna, has been causing significant delays in the movement of people, goods, and services. This vital corridor is a major link within the nation’s socio-economic zones and its failed condition has heightened the hardship of motorists and impacted economic activities, greatly. Speaking during the inspection, the Honourable Minister emphasised the strategic importance of the road, reiterating President Tinubu’s commitment to making Nigerian roads motorable and safe, despite existing funding constraints. He noted that the President has made it a priority to ensure swift interventions, where necessary, to ease the suffering of Nigerians. On behalf of the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, Goronyo assured the public that the Ministry has assessed the identified portion of the road and will commence immediate emergency repairs. This proactive measure is part of the government’s broader agenda to strengthen road infrastructure and promote an efficient transportation network across the country. The Minister, while appreciating the patience and understanding of road users, assured the public of concerted efforts to deliver quality roads and bridges for accelerated national development. Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director, Press & Public Relations. 23rd July 2025. ...

Jul

2025

Minister Inspects Damaged Flyover at Keffi, Directs Urgent Intervention The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has inspected the damaged flyover at Keffi caused by an overburdened truck carrying an excavator. The impact of the collision completely dislodged one (1) of the beams and damaged two (2) others. The on-the-spot assessment was undertaken today, Sunday, July 20th, 2025. The Minister, who was accompanied by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mal. Mohammed A. Ahmed, the Deputy Director, Design and Bridges, Engr. Musa Seidu, Federal Controller of Works, FCT, Engr. Yakubu Usman and other officials disclosed that he had directed the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, along with a team of engineers, to visit the damaged infrastructure on the day of the incident, Thursday, 17th July 2025. Following their preliminary inspection, which revealed visible cracks on the structure caused by the force of the impact, he ordered the immediate closure of the affected carriageway of the flyover to traffic to prevent further damage, as well as mitigate risk. While one beam has fallen entirely and damaged the walkway and parapet, the other two beams, though damaged, have retained their structural integrity, according to the engineers. The underpass has been cleared, but the overpass remains closed as a precaution. Engr. Umahi, appealed to Messrs CGC (Nigeria) Limited, the contractor currently working in the FCT, to urgently begin the redesign and molding of a replacement beam, while salvaging the other two (2) that were partially affected. The process is expected to take approximately thirty (30) days, after which a strength test will be conducted before reinstallation. He emphasised that the integrity of the structure will be fully restored before reopening it for vehicular traffic. These emergency repairs, he revealed, will be handled through an intervention fund, pending the release of resources. He assured the general public that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is fully aware of the unfortunate incident and has directed immediate remedial action to restore the facility, which serves a critical transport corridor. He also commiserated with the families that lost their loved ones, while wishing the wounded, quick recovery. The Ministry will continue to work closely with the contractor and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a swift and safe reconstruction exercise. Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director, Press and Public Relations. 20th July 2025. ...

Jul

2025

FG MOVES TO PROTECT BRIDGE INFRASTRUCTURE, WARNS AGAINST OVERLOADING AND NON-COMPLIANCE WITH SAFETY STANDARDS The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s critical infrastructure. The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE stated this today, July 17, 2025, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, in response to recent damages to the structural integrity of key bridges and flyovers, nationwide. Engr. Umahi cited a recent structural incident at the Keffi Flyover, which prompted an immediate technical evaluation. The investigation revealed that the damage was caused by a container-laden trailer exceeding the permitted clearance height, highlighting a national disregard for vehicle height and load regulations. “When the height or weight of what you're transporting exceeds the permitted clearance, it directly compromises the structural integrity of bridges and flyovers,” the Minister stated. He further emphasized that “These infrastructures were never designed to accommodate such abuse. A single impact from an overloaded or improperly configured vehicle can lead to multi-billion-naira damage and threaten lives, as well as properties.” The Honourable Minister also noted that the minimum standard headroom for flyovers and interchanges ranges between 5.5 and 6.5 meters. Violating this engineering requirement not only breaches federal regulations but also significantly shortens the lifespan of essential transport infrastructure. Engr. Umahi reported that no fewer than seven bridges along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway have suffered structural compromises due to similar violations. He referenced the Eko Bridge, which was damaged by fire under the previous administration and is currently undergoing rehabilitation; it is now 80% complete, thanks to expedited funding approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Addressing the state of the 3rd Mainland and Carter Bridges in Lagos, the Honourable Minister acknowledged the discomfort faced by commuters due to ongoing maintenance exercises as witnessed during a recent inspection and urged them to be patient, while complying with the approved standards. He reaffirmed that integrity tests are essential to ensuring the long-term safety of these structures and the millions of Nigerians who use them daily. “We appreciate the patience of Nigerians during this time. All findings from our assessments are being addressed with precision, and every repair and reinforcement is being executed according to international engineering standards. No shortcuts will be taken,” he assured. The Honourable Minister also announced that the Ministry, in collaboration with enforcement agencies, would launch a nationwide crackdown on non-compliant vehicles. This initiative includes strict enforcement of weight load regulations, clearance heights, and transport configurations across federal roads and bridges. The Permanent Secretary, Engr. Olufunsho O. Adebiyi, echoed the Minister’s sentiments, emphasising that bridge protection is a shared responsibility, not solely the government’s. “The bridges across Nigeria are a critical component of the nation’s economic and transport network. These structures are designed and constructed with load and height specifications. When motorists, especially operators of heavy-duty vehicles, ignore these, they place undue stress on our infrastructure, leading to premature and costly damage,” he stated. Engr. Adebiyi urged transport unions, construction firms, logistics companies, and motorists to comply with the federal regulations to preserve public assets and ensure road safety. “The government alone cannot monitor every kilometre of road or every single bridge. This must be a collective effort. We are open to collaboration, sensitisation, and enforcement because Nigerians must understand that protecting our roads is in our shared interest,” he affirmed. In conclusion, the Ministry also called on all stakeholders—transport unions, construction companies, logistics operators, and road users—to join hands with the government in ensuring that the nation’s infrastructure investments are not rendered futile by negligence and lawlessness. Mohammed A. Ahmed Director, Press and Public Relations 17th June, 2025 ...

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Jul

2024

OTHER NEWS

Nov

2024

GORONYO MEETS MANAGEMENT AND BOARD OF FERMA
— Advocates Openness and Stakeholders’ Engagement

The Honourable Minister of State (HMS), Federal Ministry of Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq has urged the Management of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to give regular updates to the National Assembly and other Stakeholders, in order to bridge communication gaps. The HMS gave this charge at a meeting with the management of FERMA and Members of its Board led by the Managing Director/CEO, Engr. (Dr.) Chukwuemeka Agbasi, today, Wednesday, 6th November, 2024 in Abuja.

The meeting, which was the continuation of a prior one held in Kano on Monday, 4th November, 2024 is aimed at articulating a work plan with a clear roadmap for FERMA activities nationwide. It was also to address the fallout of the invitation by the National Assembly, where the need to upscale communication between the two was emphasised; the need to always bring Board Members up to speed with the activities of the Agency; grey areas observed in the non-implementation of the 2024 budget, as well as drawing a template for all on-going FERMA projects with a view to embarking on a visit to all the geo- political zones to access projects being undertaken by the Agency.

He appreciated the Management of FERMA and the Board for the visit, promising that more of such engagements will be held to bring the benefits of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which seeks to enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth.

SPEECHES

Apr

2025

WELCOME REMARKS BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY, ENGR. OLUFUNSO O. ADEBIYI FNSE, DURING THE MID-TERM REVIEW MEETING ON THE 29TH NATIONAL COUNCIL ON WORKS DECISIONS REACHED IN 29^TH NCW FOR THE PREPARATION OF 30TH EDITION OF THE COUNCIL MEETING

PROTOCOLS

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this Mid-Term Review Meeting in preparation for the 30th National Council on Works (NCW). I extend my profound gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Works for approving this important gathering, which is a vital step towards ensuring the successful implementation of resolutions from our previous deliberations.

I would also like to express my appreciation to the Nasarawa State Government for the support and hospitality towards the hosting of the meeting in the State Capital. My gratitude equally extends to our distinguished stakeholders who have taken the time to be part of this crucial discourse.

RATIONALE FOR THE MID-TERM REVIEW MEETING

This Mid-Term Review Meeting serves as a statutory activity critical to tracking the progress made in implementing key resolutions from the 29th National Council on Works, which was held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, from 15th to 18th July 2024. As we approach the 30th NCW, it is imperative that we take stock of our achievements, challenges, and the way forward.

The main objective of the maiden Mid-Term Review/ Preparatory meeting is to provide a veritable and suitable platform for critical Stakeholders in the road infrastructure Sector to have a robust national consideration on the dynamics and emerging issues concerning the sector, while the specific objectives for convening the meeting include to:

Assess the progress of newly deployed initiatives in the construction and maintenance of Nigerian road, especially the “Concrete pavement alternative”;
Examine access to alternative funding sources for argumentation of government scarce resources, especially leveraging on the Public Private Partnership models in construction and e-tolling of economic routes for maintenance of road infrastructure;
Evaluating the progress made so far in the implementation of key decisions reached during the 29^th edition of the NCW held at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State in July, 2024
Identity and benchmark constraints and challenges as well as do a SWOT analysis and make recommendations on the way forward; and
Make holistic recommendations and come up with a roadmap to guide Stakeholders in the preparation of a detailed Status of Implementation Report” for presentation at the 30^th Edition of NCW.

The discussions at this plenary session will set the tone for the deliberations of our six dedicated Desk Review Groups, which have been carefully structured to cover key technical and policy aspects of infrastructure development.

The Desk Review Group on Policy Formation and Implementation Decisions is expected to analyze policy frameworks and regulatory mechanisms guiding infrastructure projects, evaluating their effectiveness and proposing necessary adjustments to enhance policy coherence and sustainability.

The Desk Review Group on Institutional Strengthening Decisions will examine strategies for enhancing the capacity and efficiency of institutions responsible for infrastructure development, focusing on governance structures, inter-agency collaboration, and workforce competency.

The Desk Review Group on Alternative Technologies Decisions is tasked with exploring innovative construction methodologies and materials that offer cost-effective, durable, and sustainable solutions in road and infrastructure development.

The Desk Review Group on Technical and Operational Decisions will assess engineering standards, project execution models, and maintenance strategies, ensuring that technical best practices are integrated into the sector’s operational framework.

The Desk Review Group on Alternative Funding Mechanisms Decisions will evaluate existing and emerging financing models, identifying viable options for sustainable funding of infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships, concessional funding, and other financial instruments.

Finally, the Desk Review Group on Rule of Law and Good Governance will review compliance with legal and ethical standards in the sector, ensuring adherence to procurement laws, transparency, and accountability in project implementation.

As we embark on this review process, I urge all technical experts, policy advisers, and stakeholders present to engage in robust discussions, leveraging data-driven insights and global best practices to enrich our deliberations. The recommendations from this session will serve as the foundation for policy refinement, institutional reforms, and strategic decision-making at the forthcoming 30th NCW.

In this regard, we have invited three distinguished Resource Persons from the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Central Delivery and coordinating Unit (CDCU), the Budget and National Economic Planning and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to share their expertise and insights. Their contributions will undoubtedly enrich our discussions and provide strategic direction for achieving our collective goals.

I extend my profound gratitude to the Honourable Minister for his unwavering leadership and commitment to infrastructure transformation in Nigeria. Let us remain focused on our collective mission to build a resilient, innovative, and well-governed infrastructure ecosystem that will drive national development. I look forward to insightful contributions and practical resolutions that will enhance the effectiveness of the Works Sector.

CONCLUSION

As we engage in fruitful deliberations over the next few days, I encourage all participants to be proactive, open-minded, and solution-driven. The impact of our discussions here will go a long way in shaping the deliberations of the 30th NCW and, ultimately, the trajectory of infrastructure development in Nigeria.

Thank you, and I wish us all productive deliberations.