Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council has approved a sweeping package of road and bridge projects worth over ₦7 trillion, marking the largest single round of infrastructure approvals under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The projects, which cut across all six geopolitical zones, include major highways, bridge reconstructions, and new road corridors aimed at improving connectivity nationwide.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who briefed journalists after the council meeting, said the approvals cover 10 key projects. Among them is a ₦1.86 trillion extension of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway into Akwa Ibom, a ₦548.98 billion contract for the complete demolition and reconstruction of the Carter Bridge, and a ₦1.79 trillion section of the Sokoto-Badagry Expressway.
Umahi explained that the decision to rebuild Carter Bridge followed multiple structural assessments over the years, which showed severe deterioration of its underwater components, leaving reconstruction as the only viable option. The new design will expand the bridge and ease traffic congestion around the area.
The council also revisited the troubled Suleja-Minna road project, previously handled under a tax credit scheme. After years of little progress, the contract was terminated and split into two sections, now reassigned to new contractors.
Other approved projects include the reconstruction of the Mando-Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna, expansion works on key roads in Osun, Oyo, and Ogun states, as well as new sections of the Trans-Sahara Highway.
Umahi highlighted the Sokoto-Badagry Expressway as a major economic corridor, noting that it would be partly funded through external financing and operated as a toll road. He added that investor interest in the project has already exceeded expectations.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway extension was described as one of the most technically demanding projects, as it will pass through deep swamp terrain requiring extensive land reclamation and reinforced construction.
In addition to new approvals, the minister revealed that several completed road projects across the country are set to be commissioned ahead of the president’s third anniversary in office on May 29.
These include sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, and multiple projects across the South-South, South-East, and North-East regions.
Overall, the approvals signal a major push by the federal government to upgrade Nigeria’s road infrastructure, improve transportation efficiency, and support economic growth through large-scale public works.
