Abuja: The Federal Government has warned that no federal road or project site should be closed without formal approval from the Federal Ministry of Works. The Minister of Works, David Umahi, who said this on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja, emphasized that certain strategic routes across the country should remain open at all times.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Umahi stated that road closures should strictly follow laid-down procedures and contractual terms. He highlighted critical routes that must not be shut down, including the Abuja-Kano corridor, Abuja-Lokoja road, Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina axis, and other major inter-state highways. Unauthorized closures, he noted, worsen traffic congestion and public hardship.
“For you to close sites, there must be approval by the Federal Ministry of Works, of course. That is what the contract says. That is what the procedure says. You don’t just close and open sites at will. We need to know if you want to close. Some projects cannot close under any circumstance. We must protect lives and keep roads motorable. There are some of the sites that must not close. No place will close without our permission. This is very important,” Umahi stated.
Umahi acknowledged the inconvenience caused to road users, particularly on the Abuja-Lokoja road, but appealed for public patience, noting that long-term benefits would outweigh temporary discomfort. On outstanding payments, the minister disclosed that the President had approved the settlement of NNPC-funded certificates amounting to N263 billion, with NNPC directed to work with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to effect payment.
He further explained, “The Permanent Secretary will write to all contractors and direct the legal department to exit NNPC and the Ministry of Finance. We are not cancelling contracts, but since they are no longer funded by NNPC, we have to exit the agreement.” A committee chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima is already working on the payment, urging contractors to submit their claims based on the generated certificates and provide evidence from January 5, 2026.
Umahi highlighted the necessity of verifying claims, noting, “We must verify everything because from 2023 to date, the total inherited debt is about N2.13 trillion, and we must be sure of the correctness.” This verification will involve anti-corruption agencies, the Budget Office, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Works, and the Auditor-General’s Office.
In a major reform, the minister announced a reorganization of the Ministry of Works, directing directors and senior officials to move from offices to project sites nationwide. “Everybody is going to the field,” he said, adding that each director will be assigned a major project to supervise directly. He emphasized that the performance of ministry staff would now be judged by project outcomes rather than paperwork, promoting digital reporting and transparency.
Officials who fail to adapt to digital processes risk removal, and all project documents and certifications will be scanned, uploaded, and verified through new zonal project websites to be managed by the ministry. Anti-corruption agencies will be involved in project verification, while every valuation and certification should be completed within 48 hours. Contractors will also be required to register their personnel, equipment, and project history with the ministry.
Umahi commended contractors for embracing President Bola Tinubu’s policy shift from asphalt to concrete road technology, describing the transition as difficult but necessary for long-term sustainability. The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, echoed these sentiments, describing the reforms as the beginning of a “new dawn” for the sector. He urged engineers and contractors to leave their comfort zones and focus on delivering visible, functional infrastructure. Goronyo also praised the concrete technology adopted by the Ministry and emphasized that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) must adopt this innovative technology for road repairs.
“Nigerians are tired of excuses. This time, we will inaugurate roads and bridges that work, not cosmetic projects,” Goronyo concluded.