Lagos–Calabar, Sokoto–Badagry top N3.2trn works budget – Umahi

2026-02-11 - 16:18

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Wednesday told lawmakers that the ministry’s 2026 capital budget will prioritise the completion of major highways and four “legacy” projects initiated by the Presidency. Defending the ministry’s proposal before the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works, the minister said the 2026 capital estimate stands at N3.244 trillion. He explained that many projects were rolled over after the administration inherited 2,064 ongoing projects in 2023. Highlighting funding constraints, he disclosed that only N210.318 billion, about 9.7 per cent of the expected capital releases for 2025, has been paid so far. He added that contractors are owed approximately N2.2 trillion for certified work carried out between 2024 and 2025. The minister said rising costs following the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira forced the government to re-scope and reprioritise projects. Umahi listed key legacy projects, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, assuring lawmakers that delivery would be phased, with some sections scheduled for commissioning by May 29, 2026. He noted that about 70 per cent of unfinished 2025 projects were carried into the 2026 plan, adding that new phases would be funded in stages to ensure timely completion.