Idris: Nigeria on Path of Economic Renewal, Global Respect 

.Umahi says FG investing trillions in construction of roads across Nigeria 

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the country was on the path towards economic recovery, restating federal government’s commitment to restoring investors’ confidence and deepening democratic values.

This was as his counterpart, Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that the federal government is investing trillions of naira in the construction and rehabilitation of roads across the country.

Idris reaffirmed this yesterday in an interview with Forbes Africa to mark the Democracy Day celebration and unbroken 26 years of democratic rule in Nigeria.

He defended President Bola Tinubu’s bold reform agenda, which included the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates – two of the most significant policy shifts in Nigeria’s recent economic history.

“These were difficult decisions that had to be made. They caused some turbulence, but like an aircraft taking off, we are now reaching stability. The World Bank has noted our return to growth levels not seen in over a decade,” Idris told Forbes Africa.

He noted that this year’s observance of the Democracy Day not just warranted celebration, but sober reflection on the journey of democratic consolidation and economic renewal.

Idris explained that funds recovered from the fuel subsidy removal were being reinvested directly into critical infrastructure projects – including two expansive highway corridors that will span over 1,700 kilometres – aimed at unlocking economic activity and bridging regional divides.

“The aim is not just connectivity, but economic opportunity,” he said. 

“Nigeria is really retracing its steps. It is becoming an important nation once again among the comity of nations. The respect that Nigeria used to have is now gradually returning. Investors have more confidence in our country,” he said.

The minister reiterated that the ongoing reforms by the Tinubu administration were not just about economic arithmetic, but about creating a new foundation for inclusive growth, accountability, and sustainable development.

In another development, Umahi who disclosed this yesterday while inspecting the ongoing construction of federal roads in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states, dismissed the claims trending online that the federal government is concentrating more projects in the South than northern areas of the nation.

Responding to questions from journalists who observed his inspection of the Zarama section of the East West Road rehabilitation in Bayelsa State, Umahi expressed satisfaction with the ongoing projects across Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa.

He said that the Bodo-Bonny Road construction handled by Julius Berger is about 85 per cent completion, projects handled by Rock Result along Ahoada section of East West Road is at 60 per cent completion, adding that RCC, Setraco have shown commitment in their jobs.

Addressing the journalists, Umahi said, “We have just inspected the work of Rock Result where we have multiple concrete culverts over the East West Road failure between Rivers and Bayelsa.

“It was in 2023, due to the climate change and we had a lot of washouts and so we isolated these washouts and called for tender, and of course we didn’t have money, so few contractors indicated interest and Rock Result won the competitive bidding taking N13 billion.

“I can say that about 60 per cent of the job has been done and it has been opened for traffic, one carriageway, they are working on the other carriageway. We are happy with the quality of work, we just asked them to fast track the speed of the work because the rain is coming.”

The minister explained that “We inspected one of the three bridges that have totally collapsed between Delta and Rivers, that was in supplementary appropriation of 2023. We did a competitive bidding on emergency platform and Setraco won the job.

“We have also looked at Rock Result, we have asked them to let us know what we needed in terms of funding to get this job completed by November this year. 

“In this Setraco second section that is 54.5 kilometres by 2, which is 109 kilometres, we can say that we have done about 85 per cent above in the job and what is needed for them to complete the job will be N30 billion. We will check the NNPC funding, how much is available within, and we also know the balance of what will be needed from Mr. President to complete this entire section.”

He revealed that one of the bridges in Rivers is almost completed, while the two in Delta are at the stage of piling. “We are also accessing some of these jobs for completion and commission by December this year. We went to Bodo-Bonny and we saw the job, it will be ready before December.” 

Umahi, who did not express satisfaction with RCC in their second phase of the job along Eleme-Onne Section of East-West Road in terms of the speed, said the contractor had agreed to speed up, saying that all the directors, controllers and engineers have been notified.

He added, “Let me say that, we are very happy with the quality or work in Bodo-Bonny. Very happy with Julius Berger. Very happy with quality of job with RCC, very happy with quality of work with Rock Result, very happy with Setraco, both their speed and quality of job. 

“On our way now, we are going to see the last two bridges and check the roads up Delta today and tomorrow we continue with the projects in Delta, Anambra and Enugu. We are looking at projects that must be completed and commissioned by December.”

On the safety measures to sustain the East West Road washout by flood years ago, the minister stressed “We are having coastal road and there is this conversation on where coastal road will pass, and so I am going to engage the stakeholders of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

“We are looking at the possibility of keeping the same alignment, because this road is constructed on asphalt and because of climate change, I can say technically that the pavement is built on flood plain and is not the fault of the engineers, the ministry of the contractors, but effect of climate change.

“If we reconstruct here to be coastal highway, we are sure to have about 15 metres width, today we have 12 metres, we are going to be raising the road by two metres. We are going to introduce multiple coverts and we are going to rework the road or reinforce concrete pavement. That is the answer to this East West Road and there is no other answer.”

Reacting to claims that the government is concentrating developmental projects to the South than the North, Umahi said “I saw what baffled me in the social media, when faceless people that said that they are Northern elders, saying that more projects are being done in the South than in the North. And that is very funny and quite misleading.”

He explained “Amongst the four legacy projects, the North has 52 per cent, while the South has 48 percent: Lagos-Calabar 750, you have the Sokoto-Badagry 168, Calabar-Abuja 465, Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe 439. So when you aggregate the states and length they are all passing through, you will find out that the North has 52 per cent while the South has 48 per cent.

“Now, you come and think about the longest sections, we procured section 1 in Lagos which is 47. 47, and that is 1.068 trillion. We purchased in Section 2 which is about 1.3trillion. We purchased Section 3 and 3(b) which is Cross River and Akwa Ibom, which is about 1.3. 

“You see what we have procured; 65kms plus 55kms, that is 120kms plus 47.47. So you will be looking at about 170kms. One section at Kebbi is more than that and that is 258kms. We purchased the 1st carriageway which cost 968 billion. By the time you purchase the second carriageway which we will do this month, that will be about two trillions.”

In Sokoto State, the minister said the government is constructing 120km which is 465 billion, adding that by the time “you purchase the 2nd carriageway it will almost be 1trillion.”

“In Zamfara, Kastina, Kaduna which we inherited at zero point completion is about 750kms and total amount is about 825 billion. The Abuja-Kano section 1,2,3, first section 1 and 3 is 118kms which is 252 billion and you have section 2, which is 164kms, which is 525 billion. So if you join the two, you will be getting close to 1.6 trillion.

“So, when the same faceless people talk about Second Niger Bridge, it is 134 billion for Section 2(a) and 174billion for section 2 (b). 

“When you talk about Lagos-Ibadan, all that we needed to complete the work from where it stopped last time was 93 billion. So, when you saw Lagos – Ibadan 196 billion, that is the total contract sum from past administration and this present administration and so is only 33 billion. 

“I don’t know where the jobs are being concentrated in South compared to North. Let me emphasise that Mr. President is developing the entire country in a very fair manner. If you look at Zaria to Hunkuyi, that’s about 156kms is being awarded. If you look at the Katsina -Jigawa-Kano, which is 262kms by dual task credit, is 264 billion. Dikwa in Borno State is 50kms under Dangote task credit, you have Pama which 42kms, it is there you see northern bypass, others.

“For me, I am very happy with all the development and we should stop saying this because everybody is going through these roads, and what do we even have in East West Road, 156billion, 30km from Eleme to Onne. We have these jobs that is about 75billion to completion under Setraco, we have 13.5billion under Rock Result, we have 9.7km by 2 under Getto bypass in Akwa Ibom. 

“I needed to clarify this because of misinformation that is going around by faceless people. The real North elders have commended Mr President, he is doing quite a lot.”

He noted that President Tinubu is working tirelessly to ensure that all geopolitical areas in the country benefits from his developmental strides.

“I want to say, that these four legacy projects when it is completed in the next six years by Mr. President, Nigeria will never be the same again, because as we are working, we are connecting all these major roads within the six geopolitical economic corridors. 

“Some people are already asking for right of way for concession, they should come and pay federal government every amount of money we use and then toll it. You can see that Mr. President is champion of our democracy and the man that is reviving our economic indices,” Umahi added.