The Federal Ministry of Works and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are set to deepen collaboration on contract management, dispute resolution and legal support to accelerate infrastructure delivery across Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, made this known when he received the NBA President, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo- Okusanya, SAN, and her delegation in Abuja.
Goronyo said effective legal frameworks were essential to the success of major infrastructure projects, noting that every contract carried the possibility of disputes that could delay delivery.
“There is no contract that can be awarded without an agreement, and there cannot be an agreement without the possibility of disputes,” he said.
He urged the NBA to deploy its expertise in contract review, legal advisory services and alternative dispute resolution to support the Ministry’s efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister cited major projects including the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Akwanga-Jos- Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri corridor as critical infrastructure designed to improve connectivity, boost trade and strengthen national development.
Responding, Badejo-Okusanya pledged the NBA’s support for the Ministry, identifying construction arbitration, contract review, capacity development and legal advisory services as key areas of collaboration.
She said stronger cooperation could help reduce prolonged disputes and ensure that infrastructure projects were completed on schedule.
The NBA President also appealed to the Ministry to address the poor condition of the road and drainage infrastructure around the Association’s secretariat.
Goronyo assured her that the concerns would be referred for technical assessment and necessary action.
Both sides expressed optimism that the partnership would strengthen infrastructure delivery and contribute to Nigeria’s economic progress.
