By Adeyemi David
Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has called on the National Assembly to support President Bola Tinubu in raising N7 trillion through bonds to fund the completion of road projects previously handled by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Umahi made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja while defending the ministry’s 2026 budget before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Works, explaining that the request followed presidential approval for the ministry to assume responsibility after NNPCL withdrew funding from the projects.
“NNPCL, with the approval of Mr President, has pulled out of funding this project. A total of N7 trillion will be needed to complete it, and Mr President has approved that the ministry take over execution,” he said.
The minister stressed that the affected projects are located within key economic corridors and are critical to national development.
He listed portions of the East-West Road, Suleja–Minna Road, and several projects in Taraba, Adamawa, and Niger states among those requiring urgent funding.
“It is good for our lawmakers to encourage Mr President to raise bonds and complete them. Whether it was right or wrong, our people need these roads. This is very important,” Umahi added.
He commended Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure and praised the National Assembly for its continued support, noting that the President inherited 2,064 ongoing projects valued at about N13 trillion as of May 29, 2023—before the naira float and fuel subsidy removal increased construction costs.
“If you appraise building material costs now compared to before subsidy removal, you can imagine the implications. But I thank the President; I do not think any other president has done that. When we came on board, we had to continue all 2,064 projects,” he said.
According to the minister, the Federal Executive Council directed the prioritisation, phasing, and re-scoping of projects, particularly those within major economic corridors across the six geopolitical zones.
Umahi disclosed that the total cost of ongoing projects rose to N16.9 trillion as of December 2025, excluding the President’s four legacy projects, describing the figure as unrealistic and necessitating segmentation for phased completion.
He added that the President approved additional funding of N797 billion in the 2026 budget proposal, covering contingency and counterpart funding.
A regional breakdown shows the South-West receiving N160 billion for critical infrastructure, including the Third Mainland Bridge.
The South-South and North-West were allocated N120 billion each, while the South-East got N105 billion. North-Central and North-East are to receive N105.2 billion each.
Providing updates on flagship projects, Umahi said Section One of the Lagos–Calabar Highway would be completed and commissioned by May 29, while 50 per cent of the 55-kilometre Lekki Deep Sea Port access road is expected to be ready by the same date, with full completion slated for later in the year.
He also noted that work on Section Three of the Lagos–Calabar Highway in Cross River is progressing steadily with concrete pavement, and projected that 50 per cent of the Sokoto–Badagry axis would be completed within six months.
The minister further revealed that contractors are owed approximately N2.2 trillion for certified works carried out between 2024 and 2025 but assured that steps were being taken to settle the claims following presidential approval.
Meanwhile, proceedings at the budget defence were briefly disrupted by a heated exchange between Senate Majority Whip, Onyekachi Nwabonyi, and Deputy Minority Whip, Rufai Hanga.
The disagreement, which stemmed from allegations of unequal speaking time, temporarily halted the session before order was restored.
