The Federal Ministry of Works has said its 2026 capital plan will prioritise the completion of major road projects and four presidential “legacy” projects across the country.Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, disclosed this during the ministry’s budget defence before the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works.
He said the proposed 2026 capital budget stands at ₦3.24 trillion, with a strong focus on completing ongoing infrastructure projects.Umahi explained that the ministry inherited 2,064 projects in 2023 and had to continue with them, which accounts for the high number of ongoing and carried-over projects in the new budget proposal.
Highlighting funding challenges, the minister revealed that only ₦210.318 billion of the 2025 capital allocation had been released so far, representing about 9.7 per cent of the expected amount.
He added that the government currently owes contractors approximately ₦2.2 trillion for certified works executed between 2024 and 2025.
According to him, rising costs following the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira have necessitated the re-scoping and prioritisation of projects to align with available resources.
He listed key legacy projects to include the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway corridor, assuring lawmakers that delivery would be phased, with some sections expected to be commissioned by May 29, 2026.
The minister further noted that about 70 per cent of unfinished projects from 2025 have been rolled into the 2026 plan, adding that new phases would be funded in stages to ensure timely completion and improved road infrastructure nationwide.
Reporting by Abiola Peters