- …Why we embark on road infrastructure revolution, by President Tinubu
- …As government emphasises road abuse, maintenance, sustainability
The federal government has explained why it is ramping up investments in road infrastructure, citing the sector’s critical role in linking farms, industries, and citizens to economic opportunities nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu noted that the step becomes inevitable considering that road infrastructure is the backbone of Nigeria’s socio-economic life, with over 90 per cent of passenger and freight movement in the country relying on roads.
“The condition, reliability, and sustainability of our federal road network therefore have a direct bearing on economic productivity, national integration, road safety, and the overall quality of life of Nigerians,”
The President spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the 2026 FERMA Roads Summit, themed ‘Sustainable Road Infrastructure for National Growth’, where he highlighted a few flagship interventions that reflect this renewed focus.
“The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning approximately 750 kilometres, is designed to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy, enhance connectivity along our coastal corridor, and stimulate tourism, trade, and industrial development.
“Complementing this is the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, a historic 1,068-kilometre north-south corridor that will connect the far northwest of our country to the Atlantic coast, opening new economic frontiers and strengthening national integration.
“Those that are currently being driven on Abuja-Kaduna, Zaria-Kano Road, Abuja-Lokoja-Benin road, Benin-Asaba-Superhighway, and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe.
“Those that have been completed or nearing completion include Lagos-Ibadan expressway; Bodo-Bonny road; Oyo-Ogbomoso Road; 9th Mile- Oturpo-Makurdi Road; and Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.
“Together, these highways redefine Nigeria’s road transport architecture and symbolise our determination to build infrastructure that unites and grows the nation.
“In addition, the completion of major bridges, most notably the Second Niger Bridge and the rehabilitation of critical assets such as the Third Mainland Bridge, Eko Bridge, and Carter Bridge in Lagos, as well as strategic links across the Niger Delta and other regions, demonstrate this administration’s resolve to close connectivity gaps and preserve existing assets.
“Importantly, these projects are being executed with a new emphasis on engineering excellence, climate resilience, and long-term service life, with design lives of 50 to 100 years in mind”.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President stressed that building new roads is only half the task; maintaining them is equally critical.
“Sustainable road maintenance is not an option; it is a compelling necessity. Without it, today’s investments become tomorrow’s liabilities,” Tinubu said, emphasising FERMA’s mandate in routine audits, post-failure assessments, and data-driven maintenance.
He further noted that a comprehensive, geo-referenced database of federal roads is being developed to track failures, causes, and interventions, allowing Nigeria to shift from emergency repairs to predictive and preventive maintenance.
The President also outlined key pillars for sustainable road governance, including clear institutional mandates, predictable funding, enforcement of axle-load regulations, use of durable, climate-resilient materials, and public-private partnerships.
“This administration has demonstrated immense political will to achieve the desired objectives.”
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, who represented the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said road abuse, such as overloading, reckless driving, and unauthorised use, was shortening the lifespan of federal roads and draining public resources, calling for stronger measures to protect infrastructure investments.
Noting that while the government continues to invest heavily in road construction and maintenance, misuse of roads is undermining those efforts, the Minister described tackling road abuse as essential to safeguarding public funds and ensuring long-term value for citizens.
“Road abuse remains a critical challenge. Practices such as overloading, reckless driving, and unauthorized road use shorten the lifespan of our investments. The consequence is a heavy drain on lean government resources, forcing repeated repairs instead of allowing us to expand and modernize our network,” Goronyo said.
Commending President Tinubu for prioritising road infrastructure and backing FERMA’s mandate, Goronyo emphasised that the administration had repositioned infrastructure as a pillar of economic stability and national security.
“Mr. President’s mandate is clear, we are building a $1 trillion economy, and that economy cannot run on failed roads,” he said.
He said the administration was pursuing reforms in infrastructure financing despite fiscal constraints, including a shift from annual budget dependence to alternative models.
“This administration has made bold choices despite fiscal constraints. We are accelerating legacy projects, focusing on vital corridors, and moving beyond annual budgets toward Public Private Partnerships, life cycle costing, and innovative resource management,” Goronyo said.
He added that the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund was being used to close funding gaps, stressing that there would be “zero tolerance for waste.”
Outlining the government’s approach to sustainability, the Minister said it rested on modern construction standards, technology-driven maintenance, and climate resilience.
“Sustainability today means three things: adopting modern construction standards, including concrete pavement technology to extend road life; transitioning to technology-driven maintenance, with FERMA leading a proactive, data-driven model; and building climate resilience and local capacity, using materials that withstand changing rainfall patterns while empowering indigenous contractors and Nigerian professionals,” he said.
However, Goronyo noted that sustainability also required institutional and behavioural changes, including predictable funding, stronger coordination among agencies and the private sector, and a shift in attitude towards routine road maintenance.
“Our roads represent a social contract with the Nigerian people. When we build sustainably, we lower food prices, improve healthcare delivery, enhance competitiveness, and unite our nation,” he said.
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Goronyo also acknowledged the National Assembly Committees on FERMA for what he described as sustained oversight and budgetary support, as well as Minister Umahi, for guiding the sector.
Earlier, FERMA Managing Director and Chief Executive, Dr Emeka Agbasi, identified deteriorating road assets, funding constraints, climate-related damage, and safety risks as major threats to Nigeria’s economic growth.
He said Nigeria’s dependence on road transport made the challenges urgent, noting that roads carry most passenger and freight movement nationwide.
“Despite their importance, we are all aware of the persistent challenges facing our road sector: deteriorating assets, maintenance backlogs, climate-induced damage, funding constraints, and road safety concerns,” he said.
He warned that the problems increase transport costs, lengthen travel time, reduce competitiveness, and endanger lives.
Agbasi said sustainable road infrastructure required a shift from short-term repairs to long-term, lifecycle-based planning, backed by data-driven asset management, predictable maintenance funding, and stronger institutional coordination.
He said the summit was timely, stressing that well-maintained roads were critical to trade, job creation, rural development, and national cohesion.
