Umahi sets April 2026 deadline for Abuja-Lokoja Expressway completion

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has fixed April 2026 as the deadline for the completion of the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.

He warned that any contractor who fails to meet the target will lose the project.

Speaking on Saturday during an inspection of road projects in the North Central zone, Umahi commended the quality of the ongoing work but condemned the slow pace.

He said: “The quality of the job is excellent, the pace of the work is nonsense.

“If I come again in November and the thing is still like this, I will discontinue the job. Those who cannot meet up will have their contracts divided and reassigned.”

The Minister explained that the Federal Government would only release funds based on milestone completion, adding that non-performing contractors would be replaced.

“We are going to agree what you can finish in the next one year, and then we agree on milestone completion. If you complete from here to here, you get paid. Those who cannot meet up, their jobs will be revoked,” Umahi declared.

He disclosed that the contractor had secured approval to replace asphalt with concrete across the 53-kilometre stretch without raising costs.

“It was to be done on asphalt, but the contractor said concrete is better. We worked it out and agreed that concrete should be used at the same cost,” he explained.

Umahi also noted that the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road would be completed by June 2026 at an estimated cost of N761 billion.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu has directed that all critical infrastructure projects, including those tied to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), must continue but “not on the former terms.”