Works Minister, Umahi Directs All Contractors on Construction Sites Projects to Ensure Yuletide Free Traffic on Federal Roads

• To Intensify Supervision, Rescope NNPC Previously Funded Projects
• To Engage More Local Contractors On Federal Government Projects in The Coming Year

As part of measures to ensure efficiency, sustainability, adaptivity, and continuous improvement in the handling of projects of Federal Ministry of Works, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has announced measures to ensure effectiveness in project management and project  delivery, including measures to free the roads under construction, and plans to step up supervision of the federal government road projects nationwide to ensure that Federal Ministry of Works attains the required thresholds  in effective project management in the coming year.

According to a statement issued by Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works, this was revealed during a meeting of the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Works with the contractors handling ongoing road projects of the federal government, the Zonal Directors of Works and the Federal Controllers of Works in all the 36 States of the federation including FCT held at the Ministry’s headquarters, Mabushi-Abuja on 23rd December 2025.

In the meeting, which had in attendance, the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo Esq, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, the Managing Director of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency(FERMA), Dr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, together with the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement, South East, South South, North Central and North West, Barr. Chioma Nweze, Gift Johnbull, Dr. Abiding Essiet,and Hon. Abdullahi Tanko Yakasi, respectively, the Honourable Minister of Works, reiterated his directive that all contractors handling ongoing federal road projects should clear blockages of all construction sites nationwide, especially on high traffic routes like Abuja-Kano,Abuja-Lokoja, Ife- Ibadan, Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-PH, Mararaba-Keffi,Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina roads,noting that in line with the extant procedures under the contract  of service,no construction site should be closed without clear permission from Federal Ministry of Works.

He, however, harped on the need for motorists to abide by the code of traffic and for the Federal Road Safety Corps to show more commitment in enforcing safety rules.

He further stated that in the coming year, the Ministry would step up project supervision, and every engineer would be in the field, including Zonal Directors, to ensure that contractors deliver   their projects in record time.

He noted that the bane of effective project management and delivery is the lack of supervision.

He said fund was underway for the payment for certificates generated on the NNPC previously funded projects, noting that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, had directed that all the inherited NNPC projects must continue but NNPCL would no longer be the one to pay the contractors but would be by Federal Ministry of Works.

He said the projects would be rescoped in sections such that more capable contractors would be engaged to work on the projects.

He further stated that for the existing contractors to continue with the NNPC projects, they have to exit the tripartite agreement, and then sign an addendum with Federal Ministry of Works to continue with such projects.

He promised that more jobs would be given to the local contractors who must show capacity and discipline to deliver on work specifications.

On his own part, the Honourable Minister of State for Works commended the commitment of Mr. President in pursuing the goals of his Renewed Hope administration on road infrastructure development in all parts of Nigeria.

He commended the steadfastness of Federal Ministry of Works in the implementation of robust policies that would lead to quality and speedy delivery of the ongoing projects of Federal Government of Nigeria. He urged Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to rise to the task ahead so as to justify the mandate of the agency.

He said there was a need for everyone to leave his/ her comfort zone and embrace the duty of supervision and monitoring of projects.

He further admonished that FERMA should adopt innovative solutions in order to deliver in the mandates of FERMA and satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians, noting that Nigerians are tired of excuses and as such FERMA must brace up to its duty of road maintenance.

In a vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Works thanked all who came despite the short notice.

He appreciated the commitment and collaboration of the contractors to move Nigeria to the next level in road infrastructure development.

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