Minister Umahi Orders Three-Week Emergency Rehabilitation of Federal Highways

In a move aimed at addressing the current state of Nigeria’s federal road network, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a directive for a three-week emergency rehabilitation exercise covering major highways across the country’s six geopolitical zones. According to a statement provided by his media aide, Francis Nwaze, the directive was issued during a meeting with Zonal Directors at the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja.

Prioritizing Motorability Over Permanent Construction

Minister Umahi expressed significant dissatisfaction with the current approach of some contractors, who have focused on permanent construction projects while leaving adjacent sections of the same roads in impassable conditions. The Minister stated that this practice must end, emphasizing that emergency rehabilitation—designed to make roads functional for motorists—must take precedence over permanent construction where necessary during this three-week window.

The technical scope of the intervention includes:

• Excavation of failed road sections.
• Replacement of unsuitable materials with stone base mixed with 3.5 to 5 percent cement.
• Application of asphalt binder and wearing courses where required.
• Rehabilitation of road shoulders and drainage systems.

The Ministry has stipulated that completed sections are to be opened to traffic once they have remained in place for at least 21 days, provided they are deemed safe.

Scope and Oversight

The directive targets a extensive list of critical routes, including the Abuja–Lokoja, Benin–Ore, and Enugu–Port Harcourt roads, as well as various sections in the North-West, North-East, and South-East regions. To ensure accountability, the Minister has ordered the creation of a digital reporting platform. Officials are required to upload real-time data regarding project locations, contractor performance, and specific challenges encountered on-site.

Furthermore, the Minister warned contractors against using the expiration of one-year defects liability periods as a justification for abandoning poor-quality work, noting that contractors are expected to return to previously completed projects to repair any identified defects.

Contextualizing Infrastructure Projects

Addressing concerns regarding the administration’s broader infrastructure agenda, Minister Umahi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the 750-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway. He dismissed suggestions that the ongoing work on the East-West Road would compromise the coastal project, describing the latter as the administration’s “First Legacy Project.”

The Minister attributed the necessity of this emergency intervention to the state of the road network inherited by the Tinubu administration, which he described as severely deteriorated. Beyond facilitating travel during the festive season, the government stated that the repairs are intended to support security operations and ensure the smooth movement of people and electoral materials for the January 2027 elections.

Conclusion

While the Ministry of Works has outlined a clear technical plan for these repairs, the success of the three-week timeline remains dependent on the immediate mobilization of contractors and the efficacy of the new digital monitoring system. As the deadline for the January 2027 elections approaches, the government appears focused on utilizing palliative measures to maintain connectivity across the national highway network.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Channels Television