The federal government has moved to fast-track major federal road and bridge projects in Niger State, as growing traffic pressure and structural concerns threaten key transport corridors linking northern and southern Nigeria.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this in Abuja after a meeting with Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, where both leaders agreed to deepen collaboration to address worsening congestion, infrastructure decay and safety risks on federal roads in the state.
Umahi said the Bola Tinubu administration was determined to accelerate the delivery of ongoing projects, describing road infrastructure as a shared national responsibility rather than one limited by jurisdiction, a statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed said on Wednesday.
He commended the Niger State Government for stepping in on several federal road corridors, noting that interventions in Minna, Bida and Suleja had improved mobility and stimulated economic activity.
A major focus of the talks was the 71-kilometre Minna–Suleja Road, a critical artery connecting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the North Central region. Umahi disclosed that the project has received approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and is awaiting consideration by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He added that Tinubu had directed that the project be prioritised, assuring that funds already deployed by the Niger State Government for emergency intervention would be refunded.
On the Jebba and Lambata bridges, the minister said integrity tests are currently ongoing, alongside repairs to expansion joints, amid concerns over the impact of heavy traffic and prolonged congestion. He warned that indiscriminate parking, trading activities and the clustering of heavy-duty vehicles on bridges were accelerating structural deterioration.
“Bridges are designed for the dynamic movement of traffic, not for static loads,” Umahi said, adding that the ministry would engage transport unions, tanker drivers and other stakeholders to protect critical national infrastructure and extend the lifespan of major bridges.
The minister also revealed that all NNPC-funded road projects nationwide have now been approved for takeover by the Ministry of Works, in line with a presidential directive. He said funding templates are being finalised to ensure the seamless continuation of work and ordered ministry officials to submit detailed status reports on all federal road projects in Niger State to enable swift intervention where required.
Bago, in his remarks, underscored Niger State’s strategic importance as Nigeria’s central transport corridor, linking the North and South. He said more than 100,000 trucks pass through major routes in the state daily, placing enormous strain on road and bridge infrastructure.
The governor raised concerns over severe traffic congestion, rising security risks and infrastructure degradation along key corridors such as Jebba–Lambata–Minna–Suleja. He called for urgent action on the Jebba Bridge and other heavily trafficked bridges, stressing the need for integrity tests, traffic control measures and accelerated rehabilitation to avert potential disasters.
Bago also praised the federal government for adopting concrete pavement technology on the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway and urged that the same durable construction approach be extended to other major highways across the country.
Emmanuel Addeh
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