Abuja: Minister of Works, David Umahi, urged the National Assembly to support President Bola Tinubu’s N7 trillion bond plan to finance NNPCL road projects nationwide, emphasising its importance for infrastructure and economic growth.
Umahi made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja while defending the ministry’s 2026 budget before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Works, underscoring the urgency of funding road infrastructure.
He explained that this request resulted from presidential approval for NNPCL to withdraw funding from the projects, making alternative financing essential.
He said: “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 underscored the critical necessity of these projects, emphasising that their continuation will play a decisive role in linking the nation’s economic corridors and accelerating Nigeria’s growth.
He listed projects on the East-West Road, Suleja–Minna Road, and several in Taraba, Adamawa and Niger states.
“They are all part of the NNPCL-funded projects, just to mention a few.
He urged lawmakers to proactively empower Mr President to raise bonds and ensure the timely completion of these essential national projects, for the enduring benefit of all Nigerians.
He affirmed, “Regardless of past decisions, our people urgently need these roads. This is a matter of national importance,” Umahi insisted.
He commended Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure and praised the National Assembly for supporting the President.
Further illustrating the scale of need, Umahi said the President inherited 2,064 ongoing projects on May 29, 2023, valued at about N13 trillion.
He noted that the figure predated the naira float and the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“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.
He said the Federal Executive Council directed prioritisation, phasing and re-scoping, especially within major economic corridors across the six geopolitical zones.
He added that, factoring in these legacy challenges, the total cost of ongoing projects stood at N16.9 trillion as of December 2025.
He clarified that the figure excluded the President’s four legacy projects.
Umahi explained that the N16.9 trillion total cost made completing all projects at once unrealistic, so the ministry segmented or grouped projects by geographical zones to manage funding and completion more effectively.
“The President graciously gave us additional funds in the 2026 proposal, totalling N797 billion, including contingency and counterpart funding,” he said.
He said the South-West was allocated N160 billion for critical projects, including the Third Mainland Bridge.
The South-South and North-West received N120 billion each, while the South-East got N105 billion.
North-Central and North-East were allocated N105.2 billion each, he added.
Umahi said Section 1 of the Lagos–Calabar Highway would be completed and commissioned by May 29.
He added that 50 per cent of the 55-kilometre Lekki Deep Sea Port access road would be completed by May 29.
He said: “The entire project will be completed by the end of this year.
“Section 3 in Cross River is ongoing, uninterrupted, with concrete pavement works progressing.”
He said 50 per cent of the Sokoto–Badagry axis would be ready within six months.
“We are hoping to complete that project by the end of the year,” Umahi stated.
In addressing project progress, he disclosed that contractors are owed about N2.2 trillion for certified works executed between 2024 and 2025.
However, he said efforts were underway to settle the claims following presidential approval.
Earlier, a heated altercation nearly disrupted proceedings during the budget defence.
Senate Majority Whip, Onyekachi Nwabonyi, and Deputy Minority Whip, Rufai Hanga, engaged in a shouting match.
Nwabonyi complained he was not given enough time to comment, alleging unequal allocation of speaking time.
The disagreement briefly halted the session before order was restored.
