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Investors Are Seeking To Refund And Toll President Tinubu’s Legacy Projects – Umahi

Published

5 months ago

May 15, 2026

The Federal Ministry of Works witnessed another major milestone on Wednesday and Thursday, May 13 and 14, as the Federal Government signed Memoranda of Understanding and contract agreements for eight major road projects across the country.

The signing ceremony, which took place at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, brought together government officials, contractors and stakeholders in what was described as another bold step in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s drive to modernize Nigeria’s road infrastructure and strengthen the economy through strategic investments.

This was made known by Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media) .

Speaking during the ceremony, the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, described the projects as part of the growing legacy of President Tinubu’s administration.

“Today is another event that adds to the great work that President Bola Tinubu is doing,” Umahi said.

The Minister revealed that the Federal Government has already procured the first 123 kilometres single carriageway of the Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Super Highway, stretching from Calabar through Ebonyi State to the Benue border. According to him, the newly signed section covers another 173 kilometres through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States, ending at the Oweto Bridge.

He further disclosed that government would soon procure the second carriageway of about 300 kilometres from Ndibe Beach to Oweto in Nasarawa State.

Umahi said the project would significantly reduce travel time between the South East and Abuja while boosting economic activities in the region.

“I want to say this without any apology the SouthEast People will reciprocate what the President has done for the people. What happened in 2023 was an accident of history and in 2027, we will show our appreciation,” he stated.

“I was a governor, I was a deputy governor and we never witnessed federal government projects in SouthEast but today, we may not be the first, or the second or the third but definitely, we are not the last.”

“So, we are very proud of what the president is doing in the entire SouthEast and I pledge on behalf of the entire SouthEast that we are going to reciprocate because with this project, any part of the SouthEast you are, you will be in Abuja in 3 to 4 hours. And this is a plus to our commercial activities.”

The Minister noted that five companies competed for the project before Infouest emerged successful, adding that the same transparent procurement process was adopted for the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project.

Umahi also spoke on the progress of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the project had moved from skepticism to national admiration.

“When we started the coastal highway, 750km, people did not believe that it would be a reality. And some that knew that it would be a reality, out of envy and jealousy, started to criticize the project,” he said.

“But today, the entire country is waving their flags for President Bola Tinubu because that project is a beauty to behold. It is an economic catalyst for the nation, Nigeria.”

According to him, by November, motorists will be able to travel from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos through Sections One, Two and part of Section Four to Ondo State on completed portions of the road.

He added that Sections 3A and 3B in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States are ongoing, while Section Five covering 165.6 kilometres has also commenced.

Describing the coastal highway as more than a road project, Umahi said it was a long-term national investment designed to last for decades.

“This is not just a road project. I have always said that this is an investment that the President is doing, and this is a road that is going to last for another hundred years with no maintenance,” he said.

He commended HITEC Construction Company for what he described as speed, capacity and commitment to delivery, noting that the company has built a reputation for constructing up to one kilometre of road per day.

Umahi also explained that the cost of the projects include extensive drainage systems, reinforced pavement, concrete works and other durable engineering components.

“And for those who are asking us about cost per kilometer, we will be talking now at an average cost per kilometer, which is about N7.5b for a standard carriageway,” he explained.

“But this one is even with a lot of road architecture. You see the concrete poles, the drainage, the culverts, the reinforcement, the pavement. So it is not just a road. This is an investment.”

The Minister further revealed that investors are already showing strong interest in the completed sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“Just like in section one that we finished in Lagos, a lot of investors are begging to be given that section for them to toll and then give back our money even before they start tolling,” Umahi disclosed.

“So it is an investment, and it is only a person like President Bola Tinubu that can do this.”

On the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Umahi said Section IV covering the Oyo axis spans 360 kilometres, explaining that the project demonstrates government’s determination to spread development across all geopolitical zones.

“The President is President for the entire country. His four legacy projects are dotted throughout the six geopolitical zones,” he said.

He also highlighted progress on the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Road project, explaining that President Tinubu insisted on changing the original asphalt design to concrete pavement to guarantee durability.

“The President said, ‘No, we want to do concrete road so that when we build it, it will last for a hundred years,’” Umahi stated.

The Minister said the Federal Government would provide 30 percent counterpart funding for the projects, while 70 percent would be sourced through loans. He added that tolling and strategic land acquisition along the roads would ensure long-term returns on investment.

“We neither review timing nor rates. The moment we sign, as we have signed now, that is the end of the matter,”.

The four major legacy project sections signed include:

1. Calabar-Ebonyi-Abuja Superhighway, Section II: Ebonyi State Border – Benue – Kogi – Nasarawa States
2. Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Section IV: Oyo State
3. Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Section V: Akwa Ibom State
4. Dualisation of Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Road, Section II: Gombe – Biu

Other projects signed on Thursday, May 14, include:

1. Reconstruction of Mando (Kaduna) – Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State by Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited
2. Dualisation of Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road in Oyo and Ogun States by Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited
3. Construction of Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda Road in Osun State by Messrs Truecrete Solutions Limited
4. Construction of Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road in Osun and Oyo States by Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited

Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, described the signing ceremony as the successful conclusion of the procurement process and the formal commencement of project implementation.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, the Chief Executive Officer of HITEC Construction Company, Dany Abboud, assured the Federal Government of timely delivery and quality execution.

“Our commitment is always on the table. We are committed to delivering those jobs before the thirty-six months that were awarded.

“We commit to delivering a standard even better than what we have done on Coastal Highway Section One.” Abboud said.

Related Topics:investors Legacy president Projects Refund Seeking Tinubus Toll Umahi

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Business

Verify Approved Devices Before Buying, NCC Urges Nigerians

Published

5 hours ago

October 15, 2026

PlateauReports

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), apex regular in the communications industry, has called on consumers to confirm that SIM-enabled devices are Type Approved before paying for them.

Speaking recently in Abuja, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, during a press briefing, on the Commission’s implementation of enhanced Type Approval Compliance.

“When buying a phone, tablet, modem, POS terminal or any device that uses a SIM,” consumers should ask the seller whether it is NCC Type Approved, he said.

He explained that the framework enables electronic verification of the Type Approval status of SIM-enabled devices. It is meant to help identify non-compliant, cloned or fake devices and stop them from connecting to Nigerian networks. Devices already in stock are being onboarded, and future imports will be verified and authenticated.

Under Section 132(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, service providers, facilities providers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers must obtain Type Approval before equipment is sold or used in Nigeria.

On privacy, Ogoh said the framework is not a surveillance tool. It holds only device identification information, such as IMEI numbers, for regulatory purposes. It gives the Commission no access to the content of communications, photographs, messages, contacts, financial information or other personal data on users’ devices.

He said the Commission developed the approach after the August 2024 Type Approval Business Rules, through consultations with original equipment manufacturers, importers, dealers, service providers, government agencies and industry associations. It continues to work with the Nigeria Customs Service and market associations, and will intensify public awareness activities.

The post Verify Approved Devices Before Buying, NCC Urges Nigerians appeared first on Business Today NG.

Business

Why Nigeria is lucky to have Tinubu as leader now – Oyedele

Published

13 hours ago

October 15, 2026

PlateauReports

Nigeria’s Finance Minister and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, on Wednesday said the country is fortunate to have President Bola Tinubu at the helm of affairs at a time of economic challenges and global uncertainty.

Mr Oyedele made the remark on Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, where he praised the president for his willingness to implement difficult economic reforms and his understanding of economic and monetary policy issues.

“I say to myself every time that Nigeria is lucky to have a leader like Mr President,” the minister said.

“A leader that says ‘I’ll do the right thing, even when it’s not popular’. There are so very few of them, and our president is not saying it; he’s doing it, he’s doing it even with pre-election (concerns),” he added.

Since assuming office in May 2023, the Tinubu administration has introduced a series of economic reforms, the impact of which international institutions like the World Bank and the IMF have acknowledged

The reforms include the removal of costly petrol subsidies, which had been a major drain on public finance for years, the unification of the foreign exchange rates and the sharp devaluation of the naira to attract foreign capital.

Although abolishing fuel subsidies has boosted government revenue and is seen as an investor-friendly move, it has triggered a cost-of-living crisis and spurred inflationary pressures.

Reforms in the foreign exchange market have helped increase accretion to external reserves, which stood at $55.1 billion as of 9 October, its peak level in over 18 years.

The banking sector also underwent a recapitalisation exercise that ended in March and helped Nigerian banks raise N4.7 trillion in new capital.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the recapitalisation strengthened banks’ capital adequacy ratios, keeping the sector above international Basel benchmarks.

Mr Oyedele said President Tinubu possesses two attributes uncommon among leaders, notably those of democratic governments.

READ ALSO: AFC appoints Cardoso as board chairman

The first is his willingness to do what he considers right, even when the decision is unpopular or politically difficult.

“I remember at least three issues that were discussed with him recently, and on my own I would offer to say ‘maybe we wait until after the election’. And his question is always, ‘Is it the right thing to do?’ Yes, yes, it is. Why do we have to wait?” Mr Oyedele said.

“Number two attribute is that our President gets it. It’s not easy to understand issues to do with the economy, finance, monetary policy, like respect for the independence of the monetary authority. For Mr President, it’s 100 per cent,” he added.

The minister added that the president’s position on such matters has made it unnecessary for officials to discuss the issue with him repeatedly.

“We don’t even talk about it. So, I feel like we are so blessed, we cannot afford to wait even one minute,” he said.