Works Ministry, Police Strengthen Partnership To Secure Highways, Road Infrastructure

The Federal Ministry of Works and the Nigeria Police Force have intensified collaboration to strengthen security on major highways and protect critical road infrastructure across the country amid ongoing federal road projects.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this during a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Rilwan Disu, and his delegation at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Umahi said the support of security agencies had remained vital to the successful execution of strategic road projects, especially in areas affected by security challenges. He commended the police, military and other security agencies for safeguarding construction workers and infrastructure nationwide.

According to the minister, projects such as the 240-kilometre dual carriageway in Sokoto State would have been difficult to execute without adequate security support.

He revealed that the Federal Government is currently undertaking road projects valued at about N34 trillion nationwide, including inherited projects and four flagship legacy highway projects aimed at boosting economic growth and national integration.

Umahi explained that the government had adopted reinforced concrete pavement technology on many highways to improve durability and reduce maintenance costs, noting that some of the roads are expected to last between 50 and 100 years.

He added that plans were underway to enhance security on major highways through the installation of solar-powered streetlights, closed-circuit television cameras, observation posts and dedicated police monitoring facilities.

The minister said the initiative would commence on strategic routes across the six geopolitical zones, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Eleme-Onne corridor, Mararaba-Benue route and the Numan-Jalingo road.

Umahi also advocated strengthening the Federal Highway Patrol unit of the police to focus more on highway security, suggesting that toll revenues from major roads could help fund such operations.

He urged Nigerians to support security agencies with credible intelligence and assist the families of fallen security personnel, while also calling on political actors to embrace constructive criticism and provide practical alternatives to government policies.

The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, also commended the police leadership and called for increased support in securing construction sites nationwide.

Speaking earlier, Disu described roads as critical national assets that promote economic development, social integration and national security.

“You are working on the dream of a nation. Roads do not only carry daily bread; they carry the future of a nation,” the police chief said.

He urged the ministry to incorporate dedicated security infrastructure into major highway projects, including police checkpoints, patrol bases, observation centres and drone-monitoring facilities.

The IGP also appealed for patrol and armoured vehicles to support highway policing operations, assuring that such equipment would be deployed strictly for road security and patrol duties.

According to him, the proposed security architecture would improve surveillance, strengthen emergency response and enhance the safety of road users along strategic corridors across the country.