Tinubu road spending rises sharply as the Federal Government proposes N3.23tn for federal roads in the 2026 budget

President Bola Tinubu’s administration has proposed to spend N3.23tn on the construction and rehabilitation of federal roads in the 2026 budget, marking a bold surge in capital allocation to the transport sector as the government moves to accelerate long-delayed highway projects nationwide.

Also read: Fayose says Tinubu will not sacrifice Wike for Fubara

The proposed figure represents an increase of about 489 per cent over the N548.56bn allocated to federal roads in the 2024 budget and more than triples the N1.013tn provided for 468 road projects under the Ministry of Works in 2025.

Budget estimates presented to the National Assembly and released by the Budget Office show that the Ministry of Works has a total capital envelope of N3.24tn for 2026, including N1.39tn for road construction, N285.62bn for rehabilitation and repair, and N1.56tn for broader infrastructure provision.

The Tinubu administration has repeatedly argued that improved road infrastructure is central to lowering transport costs, boosting trade and supporting economic growth, amid mounting concerns over the deteriorating condition of key federal highways.

The budget proposes N7.7bn for the reconstruction of the Abuja–Lokoja Road, Sections I and II from Zuba to Abaji, and N4.9bn for the completion of outstanding dualised sections of the corridor, covering a remaining 86.6 kilometres.

On the same axis, N4.2bn was earmarked for the reconstruction of the Koton-Karfi–Abaji Road in Kogi State.

Significant funding was also allocated to the Kano–Maiduguri corridor, with N13.3bn for Section I from Kano to Wudil and Shuarin, N4.2bn for Section IV from Potiskum to Damaturu, including repairs to failed portions, and N7bn for Section V from Damaturu to Maiduguri.

The budget also includes N7.01bn for Section III of the Mubi–Maiduguri Road from Madagali to Bama through Pulka and Gwoza, and N52.5bn for Phase II of the Kano–Katsina dualisation, alongside N23.8bn for Phase I.

In the South-East and South-South, N11.9bn was proposed for the rehabilitation of Section III of the Enugu–Port Harcourt Road from Enugu to Lokpanta, and N7.7bn for Section IV from Aba to Port Harcourt.

Additional allocations include N12.6bn for the reconstruction of the Ikorodu–Itoikin Road in Lagos, N5.6bn for the rehabilitation of the Asaba–Agbor dual carriageway in Delta State, and N7bn for emergency repair works on the Eko Bridge in Lagos.

Beyond individual contracts, the ministry proposed N600bn for new road projects across the six geopolitical zones and N100bn as a contingency fund, alongside region-wide allocations of N160bn for the South-West, N120bn each for the South-South and North-West, and N100bn each for the South-East, North-East and North-Central.

External financing also features prominently, with N367.9bn allocated for tied multilateral and bilateral loans and N157bn in counterpart funding for the China Harbour Makurdi–9th Mile project.

Altogether, the proposal outlines one of the most expansive road investment programmes in recent years, spanning reconstruction, rehabilitation, dualisation, emergency repairs and new highways nationwide.

However, analysts caution that execution capacity, timely releases and contractor performance will be decisive in determining whether the ambitious allocations result in completed roads rather than a growing stock of abandoned projects.

Also read: Tinubu appoints first female Director-General of law school

The 2026 budget is expected to face detailed legislative scrutiny in the coming weeks, with lawmakers likely to interrogate project prioritisation, regional balance and the Ministry of Works’ capacity to deliver on its significantly expanded programme.