By Joy Onu
The Federal Ministry of Works has intensified efforts to strengthen road infrastructure in Nasarawa State, unveiling completed projects and inspecting ongoing interventions aimed at boosting connectivity, commerce, and local travel.
The announcement came during the Ministry’s nationwide media tour, which showcased emergency and special intervention roadworks commissioned under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Mal. Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director, Information and Public Relations at the Ministry, said the projects form part of a strategic push to rehabilitate neglected roads inherited from previous administrations, noting that 2,064 projects had stalled, alongside a ₦13 trillion debt burden, when the current government assumed office in May 2023.
The Ministry prioritised 260 critical interventions to repair collapsed and flood-affected sections, ensuring smooth movement for citizens, goods, and services. Ahmed emphasised that these efforts are coordinated under the leadership of David Umahi, Minister of Works, as part of the broader Renewed Hope Agenda.
A key highlight of the tour was the commissioning of a six-kilometre road linking Agyaragu town to Sabon Kwara in Keana Local Government Area. The project, executed by A.A. Albasu (Nigeria) Limited, forms part of a 10.5-kilometre corridor connecting surrounding communities. Construction began in November 2022 and concluded in November 2023, incorporating earthworks, culvert replacement, lined drains, lateritic sub-base, crushed stone base, asphaltic concrete wearing course, surface dressing, and lane markings.
Ishaku Mamri, Federal Controller of Works in Nasarawa State, explained that the road was previously in a deplorable state, causing difficulties for residents, traders, and commuters. The rehabilitated section spans 7.3 metres in width with shoulders and includes four kilometres of drainage infrastructure to improve durability and water management. Community members have welcomed the improvement but appealed for completion of the remaining four kilometres.
The commissioning ceremony brought together professional and media bodies, including representatives from the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Lafia Branch, led by Simon Obagu. The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council, chaired by Salihu Mohammed Alkali, performed the official commissioning on behalf of the Minister of Works.
The media tour delegation, led by Mal. Mohammed A. Ahmed of the Federal Ministry of Works, inspected the 15.8-kilometre Lafia Bypass, a project aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Lafia metropolis and providing faster access between Abuja, Makurdi, and eastern states. Engr. Tijani Olalekan of China Harbour Engineering Company explained that the project had stalled under a previous administration but resumed in February 2024, and has now reached over 80 per cent completion, with full delivery expected before the end of the year.”
The Keffi–Nasarawa Toto–Abaji road was another focus, identified as a strategic route connecting the Federal Capital Territory with neighbouring states. Initially awarded in 2018, the project stalled due to funding shortfalls but has recently gained momentum. Phase 1 is near completion under the 2025–2026 budget, while Phase 2—covering approximately 129.3 kilometres with concrete pavement—will begin soon at an estimated ₦203 billion.
Ahmed highlighted that these interventions align with the administration’s broader infrastructure agenda, which includes four major legacy projects: the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, Calabar–Abuja Super Highway, and the dualisation of the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road. All roads are planned with concrete pavements, solar street lighting, and integrated railway systems to strengthen national connectivity and stimulate economic growth.
The nationwide media tour, Ahmed noted, also promotes transparency, allowing journalists and professional bodies to verify ongoing works and giving Nigerians firsthand insight into the government’s delivery of critical infrastructure.
