The Nigerian government has refuted allegations of favoring the Southern region over the North in the allocation of infrastructure projects. Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this statement during a recent inspection tour of federal road projects in Rivers and Bayelsa states. According to Umahi, the claims of bias are “misleading” and the current distribution of projects is balanced, with the North holding 52% of legacy projects and the South holding 48%.
Umahi cited several ongoing projects in the North, including the Sokoto-Badagry Road, Calabar-Abuja Highway, and Akwanga-Jos Road, as evidence of the government’s commitment to equitable development. He accused those spreading these claims of promoting false narratives and reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to fair infrastructure distribution across the country.
The Minister also provided updates on the progress of the Bonny-Bodo Road in Rivers State, which is scheduled for completion and inauguration by November 2025. He commended the contractor for the pace and quality of work, noting that 5.3 kilometers of concrete pavement have already been completed. Umahi directed that stone base and asphalt be applied to the section to prepare it for the commissioning ceremony and emphasized that the pavement has been tested and proven durable enough to support a presidential helicopter landing.
The Federal Government plans to expand the road into a dual carriageway and install solar-powered streetlights, with the potential for an operate-maintain model to ensure sustainability. Umahi stressed that all work must be completed within the existing N200 billion contract sum, with no adjustments to be approved. This commitment to transparency and accountability underscores the government’s efforts to prioritize equitable infrastructure development and address the needs of all regions in Nigeria.
