ABUJA, — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the timely delivery of federal road and bridge projects in Niger State, with the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, assuring Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago of support for priority corridors battered by heavy truck traffic, congestion and rising maintenance pressures.
Umahi gave the assurance during a high-level meeting with Bago in Abuja, according to a statement by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed. The minister praised the Niger State Government for interventions on federal corridors, describing road infrastructure delivery as a “shared responsibility” regardless of jurisdiction, especially where state-funded repairs improve mobility for residents and commerce.
Central to the discussion was the Minna–Suleja Road (71km), which the ministry said has secured approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and is now awaiting consideration by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Umahi said President Bola Tinubu has directed that the project be prioritised and added that any advance intervention funds already spent by the Niger State Government on the corridor would be refunded.
On bridge infrastructure, Umahi said integrity tests and works on expansion joints are ongoing on the Jebba and Lambata bridges, while warning that non-engineering uses of bridge decks are accelerating deterioration. “Bridges are not designed to carry static loads but built for the dynamic flow of traffic,” he said, urging action against indiscriminate parking, roadside trading and persistent gridlock on bridge approaches.
To protect the assets, the minister announced plans to engage key stakeholders, including transport unions and tanker drivers, as part of a wider effort to extend bridge lifespans and reduce avoidable structural stress. He also directed ministry officials to provide comprehensive status reports on all federal road projects in Niger to enable rapid intervention where delays or design issues are identified.
In a broader national update, Umahi disclosed that ongoing NNPC-funded road projects across the country have now been approved for takeover by the Ministry of Works in line with presidential directives, with funding templates being finalised to ensure continuity of construction activity.
Governor Bago, according to the ministry statement, thanked Umahi for what he called a responsive and collaborative approach, stressing Niger’s role as a strategic corridor linking Nigeria’s North and South and raising concerns about severe congestion, infrastructure wear and security issues along the Jebba–Lambata–Minna–Suleja axis.
