The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, has outlined plans to rehabilitate and construct a total of 468 roads and highways across Nigeria in its 2025 budget proposal. To fund these projects, a budget allocation of N1.013 trillion has been proposed, with the Lafia road construction and the dualisation of the 9th Mile (Enugu) to Otukpo-Makurdi (Keffi Phase Two) projects receiving the largest share of N166.004 billion.
The number of planned road construction projects has decreased by 1,457 from the 1,925 roads proposed in the 2024 budget. However, the funding for these projects has seen a significant increase of N547.55 billion, from N548.56 billion in the previous year.
A breakdown of the Ministry of Works’ line items in the 2025 Appropriation Bill, presented to the National Assembly, revealed several key allocations. Among them are N15.02 billion for contingency funds and N2 billion for the purchase of vehicles for Senior Special Assistants. Notable road projects include N10 billion for the dualisation of the Kano-Maiduguri road linking Kano-Jigawa-Bauchi-Yobe and Borno states (Section V), N6 billion for the reconstruction of the Abuja-Lokoja road, N12 billion for the construction of section one of the Kano-Wudil-Shuarin road, and N34 billion for the dualisation of the Kano-Katsina road.
Other allocations include N23 billion for the rehabilitation of sections three and four of the Enugu-Port-Harcourt road, N75 billion for the dualisation of the Kano-Katsina road (Phase One), N6 billion for the rehabilitation of the Ogoja (Mbok Junction)-Abuochichie road in Cross River state, and N6 billion for the construction of the Ibi bridge. Furthermore, N10 billion has been allocated for the construction of the Bida-Sacci-Nupeko road and Nupeko/Patigi bridge, and N6 billion for the rehabilitation of the Damaturu-Biu road in Yobe/Borno states.
Additional provisions include N6 billion for the rehabilitation of the Keffi-Nasarawa-Toto road, N10 billion for the construction of Malando Garin Baka Ngaski Wara in Kebbi state, N12 billion for the construction of the Ebom road in Cross River, N12 billion for the rehabilitation and dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja road, and N10 billion for the construction of the Maiduguri ring roads in Borno State. Other allocations include N15 billion for the rehabilitation of failed sections of the Bauchi-Jigawa state border road, N8 billion for the reconstruction of failed portions of the Lagos-Abeokuta road, and N100 million for the Trans Sahara Super Highway, among others.
The 2025 budget, dubbed “Budget of Restoration,” also includes N4 billion for the construction of a presidential helipad and jetty in Lagos, N5 billion for judgment debt, N5 billion for legal fees, and N380 million for the purchase of solar lights. Additionally, N280 million has been set aside for the maintenance of seven generators, and N1.7 billion for the renovation of office buildings.
In terms of public-private partnerships, N77.1 billion is allocated for due diligence and negotiation activities, while N15 billion is earmarked for an independent engineer for the Abuja-Makurdi road. Other provisions include N10.25 billion for an independent engineer for the pilot HDMI corridors, N10 million for media consultancy and stakeholder engagement, and N580 million for the construction of public schools.
Upon taking office, Minister of Works David Umahi noted that the government inherited 2,604 road projects with an estimated funding requirement of N13 trillion, a figure that increased to N19 trillion by October 2024.
