The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has given Zonal Directors of the Federal Ministry of Works three weeks to ensure that major Federal highways across the country are made motorable ahead of the forthcoming festive season.
The Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Umahi directed the Zonal Directors, Federal Controllers of Works and Engineers’ Representatives to intensify field supervision and urgently undertake palliative repairs on failed sections of highways to ensure safer and uninterrupted movement of people, goods and services.
The directive was issued on Friday, November 13, 2026, during a strategic meeting with the Coordinating Directors of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Bridges and Design, as well as Zonal Directors.
The Minister said the immediate motorability of major highways must take priority over ongoing permanent construction works, particularly with increased travel expected during the festive period.
He expressed concern over situations where contractors concentrated on permanent construction activities while other sections of the same roads remained impassable, warning that such practices would no longer be tolerated.
Umahi directed the Zonal Directors to return to the field immediately and ensure that failed sections were addressed within three weeks through appropriate palliative interventions.
The interventions, he said, should include removing failed portions of roads, filling potholes and applying sharp sand, stone base, cement stabilisation, binder and wearing courses, depending on the condition of the affected roads.
He explained that the measures were necessary to reduce the hardship faced by motorists, noting that the Federal Government inherited several failed highways requiring urgent attention, while funding constraints and the scale of infrastructure challenges made immediate interventions necessary alongside permanent construction works.
Among the highways identified for urgent attention are Zaria–Funtua–Gusau–Sokoto, Mararaba–Keffi, Abuja–Lokoja, Kano–Katsina, Keffi–Makurdi, Makurdi–Enugu, East-West Road, Benin Bypass, Benin–Warri, Benin–Asaba, Warri–Oleh, Kano–Shuwarin and Bauchi–Gombe roads.
The Minister also specifically directed immediate rehabilitation of major highways in the South-East, including Enugu–Port Harcourt, Enugu–Aba, Abakaliki–Enugu, Abakaliki–Gojia and Aba–Port Harcourt roads.
He instructed contractors handling the affected projects to cooperate fully with the Ministry’s field officers and undertake the required palliative works, stressing that permanent construction targets must not compromise the safety and convenience of road users.
Umahi warned that contractors who failed to comply with the directive must be reported immediately, assuring that appropriate action would be taken against those found wanting.
He further directed the Zonal Directors to personally inspect projects, engage contractors and submit comprehensive reports detailing the condition of each road, the extent of work executed, identified challenges, contractors’ commitments and interventions required.
To ensure effective coordination and real-time monitoring, the Minister ordered the establishment of a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which officers would submit reports indicating their names, project locations, contractors, challenges and recommendations.
He also announced that he would commence visits to the various zones from Monday to assess compliance and evaluate the performance of Zonal Directors and other supervising officers.
Responding to concerns about failed road sections without contractors currently handling them, Umahi directed that such locations be reported immediately for urgent government intervention.
He said emergencies, particularly bridges at risk of collapse and roads that had been cut off, must be addressed without delays caused by bureaucratic procedures.
The Minister assured the officers that the Ministry would engage competent contractors to handle such emergencies and obtain the necessary approvals and funding from the President.
He also promised adequate logistical support, including accommodation, fuelling and vehicle hire where necessary, to enable the Zonal Directors to carry out the assignment effectively.
Describing the exercise as a collective responsibility rather than a punitive measure, Umahi said outstanding performance by the various zones would be recognised through special awards to encourage commitment and healthy competition.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment, under President Bola Tinubu, to improving road infrastructure nationwide, stressing the need to prevent avoidable hardship for Nigerians travelling on Federal highways during the festive season and early-year electoral period.
The Minister charged Zonal Directors, Controllers of Works, Resident Engineers and project supervisors to demonstrate urgency, dedication and accountability, warning that there would be no excuses for failure to comply with the directive.
