The Federal Government has unveiled a sweeping account of road and bridge investments worth more than ₦2 trillion, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure revolution is touching every region of Nigeria.
Minister of Works Dave Umahi, speaking after Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which the President chaired, said the administration has deliberately spread multi-billion-naira projects across the country and pledged to publish detailed records next week to ensure transparency.
“Mr. President has done extremely, very, very well in both urban and rural infrastructure. And 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 rolled out updates on key projects, including massive disbursements for Abuja road works. According to him, the first section of the Abuja project spans 118 kilometres and costs ₦286 billion, of which ₦75 billion—representing 30%—has already been paid. More than half of the work is complete. The second phase covers 164 kilometres at ₦502 billion, with about ₦150 billion (30%) recently released.
On the Abuja–Kano highway, Umahi disclosed that 30%—₦45 billion has been disbursed on the ₦450 billion project.
He also confirmed that the Abuja County application project, valued at $22 billion, has received an initial 30% payment to keep construction on track.
Regional upgrades are also being financed. Umahi said funds have been released for all four sections of the Bauchi–Gombe road, with additional support from Sukuk bonds accelerating Gombe projects already underway.
He added that 30% of the ₦156 billion earmarked for the Nembe Bridge project—vital to Nigeria’s oil-producing heartland—has been released. Once completed, the bridge will end reliance on airboats or flights for access to oil rigs.
The minister stressed that these interventions are not merely roads and bridges but economic lifelines. “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, and 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 noted.
Umahi highlighted the project decisions made at Thursday’s FEC meeting. In Adamawa, the Biu–Numan road, initially awarded in 2020 for 45 kilometres, has been extended to 61.76 kilometres. The Lagos–Shagamu–Ijebu Ode–Ore project, awarded in 2018 and reviewed in 2023, is roughly 25% completed and has now received an additional ₦11.423 billion to push it forward.
Other reviews include a Niger State road, which will now feature a binder crossing and a new strand bridge, raising costs by ₦8.94 billion. On the Sokoto–Badagry corridor, the second section to Kebbi was completed, covering 228 kilometres of three lanes at ₦961 billion, with another 120 kilometres already completed in Sokoto.
The briefing also touched on the July collapse of the Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State, which claimed three lives. Umahi expressed regret over the tragedy, revealed that settlements have been made with the bereaved families, and confirmed that reconstruction has begun. One carriageway has been closed to traffic while repairs are carried out.
“The government has settled with the families involved, no pending charges exist, and reconstruction work on the bridge has begun,” he assured.
Umahi rounded off with a firm commitment to openness and accountability: “You will see these projects yourself. Anytime, any day, I would like to debate with anybody who wants more knowledge regarding our ongoing infrastructure.
The President has done exceptionally well… I’m very grateful to him for his services to our nation.”
He added that Nigerians would soon be able to access the complete list of projects: “That will come next week, and you will be able to see the great things that Mr. President is doing.”
