The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, has requested the World Bank to consider financing road infrastructure projects through the Ministry and the Presidency, stressing that Nigeria requires additional funding to complete critical infrastructure projects.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this known while receiving a delegation of the World Bank in his office on Friday. He explained that funds from the bank would be committed to a number of strategic ongoing road projects for completion, adding that tolling mechanisms would be introduced on these roads to ensure sustainability and repayment.
In a statement issued to journalists on Friday, Umahi, who spoke on the challenges affecting the road sector, highlighted the high cost of road construction and the limited availability of funds.
He said, “Infrastructure development remains the most critical requirement for Nigeria to attain its desired position in global economic competitiveness, emphasising that efficient road networks are fundamental to national growth, trade, and social development.
“When I assumed office, the Ministry inherited about 260 weak road links, 50 dilapidated bridges, and numerous failed road sections nationwide. To address these urgent challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved N20 billion for the completion of some priority road projects, many of which are currently being commissioned across the country.
“Given current realities, long-term planning is less feasible, and the focus must be on short-term.”
The minister stressed that funding remains a major constraint and reiterated that new projects cannot be initiated while existing ones remain incomplete.
He also spoke on the Federal Government’s Development Management Initiative and the ‘build, update and maintain’ strategy, under which the government constructs roads while the private sector is engaged to maintain them. According to him, the model is designed to ensure sustainability, efficiency, and value for money in road infrastructure delivery.
Umahi identified key priority road projects currently being handled by the Ministry, including the East–West Road, comprising over eight sections, the Enugu–Onitsha Road Project, the Kano–Jigawa–Maiduguri Road Corridor, and the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
In his remarks, the World Bank Country Director, Matthew Verghis, said the purpose of the visit was to discuss practical ways of improving Nigerian roads, which he described as the country’s most important infrastructure asset.
Verghis noted that the World Bank can only fund contracts that comply with World Bank procurement standards, stressing the importance of transparency, accountability, and due process in project execution.
Also speaking during the meeting, Franz Drees-Gross, a member of the delegation, said the World Bank’s overarching objective is to create jobs and reduce poverty.
He stressed that infrastructure is central to poverty reduction, as it generates employment directly and indirectly across various sectors of the economy.
He further highlighted priority areas of interest, including the establishment of State Roads Funds, State Road Maintenance Agencies, improved flood control through effective drainage systems, and increased private sector financing.
