Senator Ikpea Assures Edo Central of Increased Federal Road Projects as Ministry of Works Defends 2026 Budget

Senator Ikpea Media Team (IMT)

Abuja, Nigeria.

Distinguished Senator Joseph Igiagbe Ikpea, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, has reaffirmed his commitment to infrastructural development in his constituency following the 2026 budget defense session of the Federal Ministry of Works before the National Assembly Committees on Works.

Senator Ikpea participated in the joint budget defense exercise alongside his colleagues, as part of the Senate and House Committees on Works, underscoring his legislative oversight responsibilities as mandated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The session formed part of the National Assembly’s statutory duty to scrutinize proposed government expenditures and ensure alignment with national development priorities.

Speaking to journalists after the session, Senator Ikpea assured the people of Edo Central that efforts were ongoing to secure more federal road projects for the senatorial district. He emphasized that improved road infrastructure remains a critical driver of economic growth, trade expansion, and social connectivity within the region.

The Minister of Works, while responding to questions from lawmakers, disclosed that the ministry’s 2026 capital proposal stands at ₦3.24456 trillion, with a strong focus on completing major ongoing road projects and four key “legacy” projects initiated by the presidency. He explained that upon assumption of office in 2023, the administration inherited 2,064 projects, all of which required continuity.

Providing insight into funding constraints, the minister revealed that only ₦210.318 billion—representing approximately 9.7 percent of the expected capital releases for 2025—had been disbursed so far. He further stated that contractors are owed about ₦2.2 trillion for certified works executed between 2024 and 2025, highlighting the financial pressures confronting the ministry.

According to the minister, the government has since re-scoped and prioritized projects in response to rising costs following the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira. Among the legacy projects cited are the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, with assurances that phased delivery would enable some sections to be commissioned by May 29, 2026.

He also informed lawmakers that approximately 70 percent of unfinished projects from 2025 have been carried into the 2026 fiscal plan, with funding structured in stages to ensure timely completion.

Against this backdrop, Senator Ikpea reiterated his determination to ensure that Edo Central benefits meaningfully from federal allocations. He noted that active engagement during budget scrutiny sessions remains crucial to attracting federal presence and accelerating infrastructural development in the district.

The lawmaker assured constituents that he would continue to advocate vigorously for the inclusion, funding, and execution of strategic road projects across Edo Central, reinforcing his commitment to delivering tangible dividends of democracy to the people he represents.