The Federal Ministry of Works has introduced a project funding prioritisation strategy to ensure the seamless continuation of critical road projects previously financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during an inspection of the East-West Road dualisation project (Section IIIA) spanning Eleme Junction to Onne Junction in Rivers State on September 9, 2025.
According to a statement issued Tuesday, Umahi said the move follows a directive from President Bola Tinubu mandating that all road projects inherited from NNPCL must continue without disruption.
“Mr. President has graciously directed that none of such works should stop.
We are going to prioritise the most critical projects and push them forward for immediate funding,” Umahi stated.
Projects Along Economic Corridors to Get Top Attention
Umahi explained that the ministry has already compiled and submitted a comprehensive list of NNPCL-initiated road projects to the Presidency. He said particular attention will be given to those located along national economic corridors, citing the Eleme–Onne stretch as a key example due to its importance to industrial and logistics operations in the region.
Contractors Face Tight Deadlines, No Variations
During the site visit, Umahi commended Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) for its high-quality work but issued a strong warning over the slow pace of execution.
“The quality is excellent, but the pace is not acceptable.
This project can never be reviewed by a kobo. No extension, no variation, and no additional claims. The completion deadline remains December 15, 2025,” he warned.
He also addressed common construction flaws, especially the practice of leaving binder courses exposed for extended periods without sealing them with a wearing course—a factor he said significantly accelerates road deterioration.
New Policy Bars Small Contracts from Expat Firms
As part of the ministry’s “Nigeria First” policy, Umahi announced that road construction contracts below ₦20 billion will no longer be awarded to foreign companies.
“We must empower our local contractors. Any contractor that violates terms will face scrutiny not just from us but also from anti-corruption agencies,” he said.
Truck Parking on Federal Roads Sparks Concern
The minister also raised alarms over the destructive impact of heavy-duty vehicles parked indiscriminately on federal highways, particularly along the Aba–Port Harcourt axis. He stated that such practices damage the road pavement and undermine the federal government’s infrastructure investments.
“Our roads are not meant to bear the static load of these trailers. They are destroying pavements that were built to last 50 to 100 years,” Umahi said.
He added that the ministry will engage with state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to implement a more sustainable solution to the issue.
Project Progress Report
Providing an update, Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Enwereama Tarilade, confirmed that RCC has completed 15km of the Eket-bound right carriageway, while construction has commenced on the Port Harcourt-bound left carriageway, with 1km already laid using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP).
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