The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, says President Bola Tinubu is borrowing to fix Nigeria’s roads because roads are the base for security, trade and growth. Umahi made the point in Abuja when the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, visited the Ministry of Works.
“When people say, ‘Why is he borrowing?’ The president is borrowing so that our roads can be good. Infrastructure, roads, everything. Without roads, it’s difficult for the security agencies. Without roads, it’s difficult for commerce to thrive. Without roads, schools will be hindered,” Umahi said.
Since May 2023, the Tinubu administration has taken on an estimated ₦57 trillion to ₦65.9 trillion in new public debt, according to analysts and groups like the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics. Umahi added that more than 80% of ongoing projects — roughly N34 trillion — were inherited from past administrations, some dating to 2000, 2015 and 2017, and were kept because they matter to the economic revolution.
He said reinforced concrete pavement is being used for durability, so completed roads may not need attention for 50 to 100 years. He highlighted four legacy projects aimed at sparking change: the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja corridor and the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri route.
Umahi said section one (47.47 km) of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is done and drawing toll investors. The president approved solar lighting for the 375 km Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road; the first 118 km is complete at N252 billion and the next 164 km should finish by November.
Security problems have slowed some works, but agencies’ help kept projects moving, he said, and thanked the police and other chiefs. Plans include CCTV, solar lights, rest houses and observation centres on major routes under concessions.
“My prayer is that God will see the president through. Nigerians should examine everybody angling to take over from the president and know whether they can do better. I don’t believe that they can do better. So it’s good for the president to continue the next five years,” he said.
