The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has revealed that the Federal Ministry of Works inherited a total of 2,604 major road and bridge projects across the country, valued at N13 trillion, as of May 29, 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office.
Addressing journalists during a ministerial sectoral briefing in Abuja, Umahi disclosed that the inherited projects spanning all six geopolitical zones have since been re-evaluated, with 440 of them prioritized based on their economic relevance and geographic spread. These prioritized projects, he said, are being reviewed due to changes in the economic indices, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.
“We inherited N13 trillion worth of road projects, with over N1 trillion in debts to contractors for completed work. Due to inflation and currency adjustments, the current estimated value of these projects has risen to about N20 trillion,” Umahi stated.
New Projects and Milestones
In addition to the inherited projects, the Tinubu administration has initiated 65 new major projects and four legacy projects. Umahi also announced the completion of 260 palliative projects valued at N208 billion, emphasizing their strategic importance in improving nationwide road connectivity.
“Some of these palliative projects might seem small, but they are vital,” Umahi stressed. “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. These roads, many costing up to a billion naira, were crucial in restoring connectivity between states.”
Umahi highlighted several legacy and high-impact projects either ongoing or near completion:
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (Phase 3A and 3B: 65km flagged off; 10km near completion by Hi-Tech)
Abuja-Kano Expressway (Sections re-awarded on rigid pavement; N252bn and N525bn respectively)
Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna Highway (750km total, N872bn, constructed on reinforced concrete pavement)
Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja-Cameroon Road
Port Harcourt–Eleme Junction (most trafficked road in Nigeria)
Akwa Ibom to Cross River Corridor
Umahi noted that many of these projects have been redesigned from flexible to rigid (reinforced concrete) pavements, especially in areas with poor terrain, ensuring longevity and reduced maintenance costs.
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The minister reiterated that road and bridge infrastructure remain the backbone of national development.
“The road sector drives GDP growth. A wise man once said, ‘If you want a nation to grow, build roads.’ That is exactly what this administration is doing. President Tinubu has shown tremendous courage and foresight in committing to infrastructure despite economic challenges,” Umahi declared.
He also praised President Tinubu for his infrastructural vision, describing him as a leader of “great courage” for initiating the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which stretches along Nigeria’s Atlantic corridor.
The minister said soft and hard copies of the completed and ongoing projects will be made available to the media and general public for transparency. He also reassured Nigerians that all ongoing projects are being executed with fiscal prudence, technical integrity, and a commitment to national development.
“With what we have done in just under a year, Nigerians should expect even greater delivery in the coming months. Roads build economies, and we’re on the right path,” Umahi concluded.