FG Spends N2.2tn on Roads in Two Years

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David Umahi, Minister of Works, said the Federal Government of Nigeria has spent N2.2 trillion and completed 260 palliative road projects in the first two years of the President Bola Tinubu administration.  He revealed this at the Eighth Ministerial Press Briefing on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the National Press Centre, Abuja.

A total of about 289 road projects under construction, said to be spread across the six geo-political zones of the country, are part of the vision of President Bola Tinubu to strengthen national connectivity and revitalise the economy.

“In just two years, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has completed 260 palliative road projects nationwide, costing N208 billion. Beyond this, 29 major infrastructure projects totaling over N2 trillion have been undertaken, demonstrating an unparalleled dedication to revitalising our national infrastructure”, said Umahi.
Among these projects are four major “Legacy Projects” at various stages of completion.

“These projects will have transformative impacts across the nation. The sheer number of ongoing projects is a testament to Tinubu’s vision and his unwavering resolve to connect our communities and boost economic activities.

“With two years under its belt, this administration is positioning infrastructure as a backbone for national development with ongoing projects spanning rural roads, federal highways, and legacy projects expected to improve trade, mobility, and local job creation”, affirmed Umahi.

The government is also introducing new programmes on the sidelines to grow local content and also improve the quality of the roads.

“Mr. President has directed that we must grow local contractors and engineers. And so, we have a programme which we call the New Tool Programme, whereby in every state, we are getting five civil engineers who are not at work, and we are posting them to these four legacy projects and other legacy projects of the country, so that they can learn.

“This is how to build capacity for the future. We can’t continue to use foreign contractors to grow our economy. You go to China; you find out who is working. We have to grow our people.”

On quality control, he said government has adopted concrete pavement technology in challenging terrain to avoid failed projects.

“And we have introduced concrete pavement, which is very easy to learn. But the trick in it, and that’s why contractors are fighting me, is that you can do all the mess and cheating with asphalt, but you cannot do that with the concrete because the moment the quality of the concrete is not there, it will fail in your face.

“A failed concrete job fails immediately but a job badly done with asphalt will still last for one year before the failure appears. And that’s when people talk the ministry is not doing anything.”

Joseph Terlumun Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, also disclosed milestones achieved over the past two years in Water and Sanitation sector in line with the President’s vision for a healthier, more resilient, and water-secure nation through strategic policies, projects, and partnerships. These efforts target improved water supply, sanitation, irrigation, food security, and flood resilience.

Utsev said the Ministry has completed and commissioned three new dams at Rafin Yashin in Niger State, Odo-Ape in Kogi State, and Amla Otukpo in Benue State.

He further disclosed that the government had concessioned the 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower Plant and Agro-Allied Cargo Airport at the cost of ₦7.12 billion; two additional dams, the 460MW Katsina-Ala in Benue State and 20MW Farin Ruwa in Nasarawa State are currently underway as Public-Private Partnership PPP arrangements.

On irrigation, Utsev said four major projects, including Bakalori in Zamfara and Dadin-Kowa in Gombe have been completed, along with the rehabilitation of 9,490 hectares of gravity-fed systems under the TRIMING Project. These initiatives are expected to facilitate the annual production of over 100,000 metric tonnes of rice.

Micro-irrigation systems have also been deployed in Oyo, Jigawa, and other states across the country to support year-round farming.

The Minister said seven water supply projects in Jigawa, Yobe, and the FCT have been completed, collectively serving over one million people while three additional schemes in Gombe, Damaturu, and Nguru are nearing commissioning.
In addition, through strategic partnerships with PEWASH, SURWASH, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), a total of 565 water schemes have been constructed, benefiting over 451,000 Nigerians.

Likewise, Nigeria has attained Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in 40 new local government areas, bringing the national total to 142. Furthermore, 159 sanitation facilities were constructed and 38 additional projects awarded across 23 states and the FCT. The Ministry also launched the revised Clean Nigeria Campaign Implementation Strategy (2025–2030) and initiated a national media sensitization campaign in five Nigerian languages.

Similarly, 14 dams, including Mangu and Adada, are nearing completion, while 113 water supply schemes are under construction nationwide.

Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, in his welcome address, emphasized that the Ministerial Press Briefing serves as a vital platform to foster meaningful engagement between government representatives and citizens, both at home and abroad.

He highlighted the importance of open communication in building public trust and ensuring transparency in governance.

Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, also presented the performance profile of her ministry in the past two years.