From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, July 31, Minister of Works Dave Umahi provided an appraisal of the administration’s infrastructure achievements, highlighting multi-billion naira projects spanning all regions and promising transparency with the publication of new records.
“Mr President has done extremely well in both urban and rural infrastructure. I promised that I’m going to publish all the projects—over ₦10 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 major road and bridge investments across Nigeria. For the Abuja road projects, the first section covers 118 kilometres, costing ₦286 billion, of which ₦75 billion (30%) has been paid, with more than half the work completed. The second phase spans 164 kilometres at ₦502 billion, with 30% (₦150 billion) recently released. On the Abuja-Kano road, which spans 72 kilometres and costs ₦450 billion, 30% (₦45 billion) has been released to contractors. Additionally, the Abuja County application project, valued at $22 billion, has received a 30% payment for ongoing work.
Regarding regional upgrades, Umahi noted that funds have been released for all four sections of the road between Bauchi and Gombe, with further funds disbursed through the Sukuk bond to support Gombe projects, which have commenced. Highlighting infrastructure critical to the oil sector, he revealed that President Tinubu has released 30% of the ₦156 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 another. 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 outlined decisions on newly approved and reviewed projects. The project in Adamawa, initially awarded in 2020 for 45 kilometres, has been extended to 61.76 kilometres for the Biu-Newman road. The Lagos-Shagamu-Ijebu Ode-Ore project, awarded in 2018 and reviewed in 2023, approximately 25% completed, received additional funding of ₦11.423 billion to ensure completion. The Niger road project was revised to include a binder crossing and a new strand bridge, increasing costs by ₦8.94 billion. The Sokoto-Badagry corridor saw the awarding of a second section to Kebbi, covering 228 kilometres of three lanes for ₦961 billion, with an additional 120 kilometres of road completed in Sokoto.
Addressing the recent tragedy at the Keffi Flyover, where three lives were lost on July 14, 2025, Umahi expressed regret, confirmed that the government has settled with the families involved, and stated that no pending charges exist. Reconstruction work on the bridge has begun, and it is currently closed to traffic.
The minister reaffirmed 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 grateful to him for the services he’s provided to our nation.”
He assured Nigerians that 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.”
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