FG: 10 bridges per state rebuilt, N250bn spent on roads in three years
By Aboki Forex —
The Federal Government says it has reconstructed more than 10 bridges in each state of the federation and completed over 260 emergency road rehabilitation projects nationwide at a total cost exceeding N250 billion in the past three years. Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Sunday at a stakeholder engagement and flag-off of road projects in Lagos.
Umahi said all 260 emergency projects had been completed, describing the scale of intervention as unprecedented. He also gave an update on repair works on the Eko Bridge and the inauguration of 40 guards assigned to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
What the Minister is saying
Umahi said the government had taken the unusual step of inviting the ICPC to independently audit ongoing road projects, and had written to the EFCC to do the same. He framed the move as evidence of the administration's commitment to transparency and accountability in project execution.
On the Eko Bridge, Umahi said the structure is in a serious condition, but full closure had been avoided to prevent severe disruption to Lagosians. The government is monitoring the crack on a daily basis.
He said the remedial work will involve reinstalling approximately seven piles, bypassing the cracked pile cap section, and installing a new pile cap. He added that the fix would last 15 to 20 years before the permanent solution is implemented.
Highway guards and road projects
Umahi also addressed the newly inaugurated 40 highway guards assigned to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Their mandate covers the elimination of hawking, loitering, commercial motorcycling, and refuse dumping from the corridor.
The Nigerian government has been pushing to upgrade road infrastructure across the country over the past three years. In November 2025, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a package of road infrastructure projects and contract reviews valued at more than N400 billion. The approvals covered nine reviews of inherited projects and two new contract awards.
Umahi said the investments were intended to deliver durable infrastructure, improve movement and support economic growth. In March 2026, FEC also approved N427 billion for the reconstruction of the 103-kilometre Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa road in the South-West. The project involves the construction of a dual carriageway, with priority given to sections that had collapsed and could no longer be rehabilitated.
What you should know
The Federal Government is not the only level of government investing in road infrastructure. In May 2025, the Lagos State Government said it had completed 61 roads spanning 56.52 kilometres and five bridges across the state in the preceding year, while accelerating work on 147 other road and bridge projects. The state said the projects were aimed at improving connectivity and easing traffic congestion.
For Nigerian businesses and commuters, the scale of federal and state road spending points to a sustained focus on cutting transport bottlenecks. Better roads mean lower haulage costs and faster movement of goods, which could ease price pressures over time.