From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has given an appraisal of the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, highlighting multi-billion naira projects spanning all regions and promising transparency as new records are published.
Speaking at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting, he said President Bola Tinubu has done extremely well in both urban and rural infrastructure.
“And I promised that I’m going to publish all the projects—over N10 billion—across the entire country. I’m trying to be correct and that will be next week. No section of the state or country is left out in the infrastructural development, roads and bridges,” Umahi declared.
He provided updates on massive road and bridge investments across the country. For the Abuja road projects, he said the first section covers 118 kilometers, costing N286 billion of which N75 billion has already been paid by Mr President, representing 30%. More than half of the work is completed. The second phase is 164 kilometers at N502 billion with 30% of that amount, about N150 billion, recently released. On the Abuja-Kano road, which spans 72 kilometers and costs N450 billion, 30% or N45 billion has been released to contractors. In addition, the Abuja County application project valued at $22 billion dollars has also received a 30% payment for ongoing work.
Regarding regional upgrades, Umahi noted that funds have been released to cover all four sections of the road between Bauchi and Gombe, and further monies were disbursed through the Sukuk bond to support the Gombe projects, which have also commenced. Highlighting infrastructure critical to the oil sector, he revealed that the President has released 30% of the N156 billion allocated for the Nembe Bridge project. Once completed, this will eliminate the need for air-boat transport or flights to oil rigs.
Umahi emphasised the broader economic impact of these projects, stating, “I’ve always said that when a road is not connected, you can’t move from one state to the other. It’s tantamount to being in prison because your movement is restricted… Projects bring down costs, the GDP of states is being improved. The 85% completion of the first section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, for example, has already positively affected Lagos’s GDP.”
He also outlined decisions on newly approved and reviewed projects. The project in Adamawa, initially awarded in 2020 for 45 kilometers, has now been extended to 61.76 kilometers for the Biu-Newman road.
In Lagos-Sagamu-Ijebu Ode-Ore, a project awarded in 2018 and reviewed in 2023, approximately 25 percent completed, received additional funding of N11.423 billion to ensure its completion.
The Niger road was revised to include the introduction of a binder crossing and installation of a new strand bridge, increasing project costs by N8.94 billion. Furthermore, the Sokoto-Badagry corridor saw the awarding of a second section to Kebbi covering 228 kilometers of three lanes for N961 billion, and an additional 120 kilometers of road was completed in Sokoto.
Addressing the recent tragedy at the Keffi Flyover, Umahi expressed regret over the loss of three lives. He confirmed that the government has settled with the families involved, no pending charges exist, and reconstruction work on the bridge has begun, with the structure currently closed to traffic.
The minister ended by reaffirming the administration’s commitment to openness and accountability. “You are going to see these projects for yourself. Anytime, any day, I would like to have a debate with anybody that wants more knowledge in terms of our ongoing infrastructure. The President has done extremely well… I’m very, very grateful to him for the services he’s provided to our nation.”
He assured Nigerians that the full details of these achievements will soon be accessible: “That will come next week, and you will be able to see the great things that Mr. President is doing.”
