Suleja- Minna road on emergency declaration as Abuja-Kaduna gain momentum

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Works has declared Suleja- Minna road project an emergency, to be handled under emergency procurement processes and taken over by CCECC and CGC companies.

Works Minister, Sen. (Engr) David Umahi made the declaration during a high-level inspection of the ongoing reconstruction of the Abuja–Kaduna– Minna dual carriageway on Saturday.

Accompanied by the Deputy Chief Whip of 10th Senate, Sen. (Barr.) Onyekachi Nwaebonyi; the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Hon. Muhammad Bello Goronyo, PDP Chieftain, Otunba Segun Showunmi, among others.
The Minister who expressed concern over the Suleja–Minna Road project in Niger State, with Messrs Salini Nigeria Ltd said despite notable achievements—such as sub-base, stone base, binder course, and wearing course already laid, the project faced setbacks, including delayed payments and insecurity.

In a statement released by the Ministry revealed that as at last assessment, the project is 86.33% complete based on the original contract sum but stands at only 30.03% relative to the revised sum of ₦26.7 billion.

Umahi reaffirmed the Ministry’s position on accountability and directed that Salini be held responsible for any contractual lapses. “Where necessary, portions of the outstanding works equal to the value owed by the contractor will be scoped out for direct execution under close supervision”.
The Minister decried the aged-long- neglect of the construction work by the contractor- Salini Nig. Ltd, which has left the site for the past 18 months without completing the contract and noted that the areas the Contractor claimed to have done have become dilapidated.

He, however, called for the termination of the Messrs. Salini Nig. Ltd’s contract of sections I and II with immediate effect while declaring the project an emergency which to be handled under emergency procurement processes and taken over by CCECC and CGC companies.

Umahi also directed a-24 24-hour documentary on the road, especially the failed areas. “The project has irrevocably terminated and Nigerians will see why we terminated it. If they (Salini) do not do what we have directed them to do, what they owe us under our supervision, we are all going to the EFCC to take it over”.

He added, “We are documenting the current condition of the road for public accountability. Once work is completed, people tend to forget how bad it was. Information Department must keep a visual record to justify our emergency action”.

The Minister reiterated that the Suleja-Minna road is now a top priority, and every effort is being made to ensure timely and quality delivery in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He reassured commuter, travellers of safety with the incorporation of safety and security infrastructure into the road design, including solar-powered lighting, CCTV surveillance, and a rapid-response system that guarantees intervention from security agencies within 10 minutes of any incident.

Speaking of the Abuja-Kaduna road project, the Minister disclosed that over 11 kilometres of Section 1 have already been reconstructed using 200 mm reinforced concrete with a projected lifespan of 100 years.
The construction process, which involves pulverising failed pavement, laying an 80 mm cement-stabilised stone base, and installing Y20 steel reinforcements at 20 cm intervals beneath a 60 mm concrete top, matches quality standards adopted for the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Road.

Umahi noted that the momentum gained on the Abuja–Kaduna project had gained added momentum followed by the inquisition which brought about this transparent site engagement.

He expressed gratitude to the President for his unwavering support following the termination of the previous contract with theJulius Berger over cost discrepancies. “Without Mr. President’s support, it would have been difficult to redeem the project’s integrity.

“But with the quality of work being delivered by Infoquest, today both the Ministry’s and my integrity are restored,” he said. Section 1 (118 km) is valued at ₦252 billion, while Section 2 (164 km), awarded at ₦525 billion, is progressing steadily across three subsections”.
Minister of State for Works, Bello M. Goronyo, praised the cross-sectoral nature of the inspection, noting that it marked a shift from armchair criticism to informed civic engagement.

He lauded the Showunmi’s patriotism and willingness to scrutinize national progress with sincerity, stating that real transformation must be driven by both resource allocation and unwavering commitment.

The Deputy Chief Whip and member of the Committee of Works commended the scale and engineering quality of the project, affirming the Senate’s continued commitment to funding and legislative backing for infrastructure that enhances trade, national cohesion, and safety.

Segun Showunmi, a well-known national voice on governance, whose concerns over delayed infrastructure projects prompted the engagement, applauded the Ministry’s openness.
“I dropped everything to be here because our national integrity matters. This isn’t personal interests or affiliations; it’s about shared responsibility,” he remarked.

While commending the quality of work, he maintained that his endorsement was based strictly on performance and would not be extended as a blanket approval to the broader administration.

He further noted that public figures owe the nation constructive criticism and not endless cynicism, that holding leadership accountable is of utmost importance as it helps in building the nation.

“We’ve seen progress, and like Oliver Twist, we ask for more. Let this be new standard—less noise, more delivery,” he concluded.