The federal government has warned that no federal road or project site should be closed without formal approval from the federal ministry of works.

The minister of works, David Umahi, who said this on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja, said that certain strategic routes across the country should remain open at all times.

Mr Umahi said road closures should strictly follow laid-down procedures and contractual terms.

He listed critical routes that must not be shut down, including the Abuja-Kano corridor, Abuja–Lokoja road, Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina axis, and other major inter-state highways.

He noted that unauthorised closures worsen traffic congestion and public hardship.

“For you to close sites, there must be approval by the Federal Ministry of Works, of course. That is what the contract says.That is what the procedure says.

“You don’t just close and open sites at will. We need to know if you want to close. Some projects cannot close under any circumstance. We must protect lives and keep roads motorable.

“There are some of the sites that must not close.No place will close without our permission. This is very important,” he said.

Mr Umahi acknowledged the inconvenience caused to road users, particularly on the Abuja–Lokoja road, but appealed for public patience, noting that long-term benefits would outweigh temporary discomfort.

On outstanding payments, the minister disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the settlement of NNPC-funded certificates amounting to N263 billion, with NNPC directed to work with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to effect payment.

“The Permanent Secretary will write to all contractors and direct the legal department to exit NNPC and the Ministry of Finance. We are not cancelling contracts, but since they are no longer funded by NNPC, we have to exit the agreement”.

He added that a committee chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima was already working on the payment, urging contractors to submit their claims based on the generated certificates and provide evidence from January 5, 2026.

“We must verify everything, because from 2023 to date, the total inherited debt is about N2.13 trillion, and we must be sure of the correctness,” minister said.

Mr Umahi said this would be done by involving anti-corruption agencies, the Budget Office, the ministry of finance, the ministry of works, and the auditor-general’s office.

In a major reform, the minister announced a reorganisation of the ministry of works, directing directors and senior officials to move from offices to project sites nationwide.

“Everybody is going to the field,” he said, adding that each director will be assigned a major project to supervise directly.

He said that the performance of ministry staff would now be judged by project outcomes rather than paperwork, emphasising digital reporting and transparency.

He said that officials who failed to adapt to digital processes risked removal, adding that all project documents and certifications would be scanned, uploaded, and verified through new zonal project websites to be managed by the ministry.

The minister said anti-corruption agencies would be involved in project verification, while every valuation and certification should be completed within 48 hours.

He said that contractors would also be required to register their personnel, equipment, and project history with the ministry.

He commended contractors for embracing Mr Tinubu’s policy shift from asphalt to concrete road technology, describing the transition as difficult but necessary for long-term sustainability.

Also speaking, the minister of state for works, Bello Goronyo, described the reforms as the beginning of a “new dawn” for the sector

He urged engineers and contractors to leave their comfort zones and focus on delivering visible, functional infrastructure.

The minister, who praised the concrete technology adopted by the ministry, added that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has to adopt the concrete innovative technology for road repairs.

“Nigerians are tired of excuses. This time, we will inaugurate roads and bridges that work, not cosmetic projects,” Mr Goronyo said.

He also advocated wider adoption of concrete technology for road maintenance, emphasising its durability when compared to asphalt overlays.

(NAN)