By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Minister of State for Works,Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., has called on Nigerian engineers, innovators, professionals in the diaspora and international development partners to deploy their expertise and innovations towards accelerating Nigeria’s infrastructure development and economic transformation.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued by SA Media to the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Abdullahi Mohammed.
Goronyo made the call while speaking at the 2026 UK Engineering Conference in Glasgow, Scotland recently, themed “Engineering Innovation for National Impact.”
The Minister described engineering as more than technical expertise, stressing that it remains a critical foundation for Nigeria’s national development, economic growth and prosperity.
He said Nigeria, with its large population, abundant resources and immense human capital, could only achieve sustainable transformation by embracing innovation, professionalism and deliberate investment in infrastructure.
According to him, “Roads lead to prosperity. They are not just pathways of asphalt and concrete; they are the arteries of commerce, agriculture and industry, carrying the lifeblood of our economy.”
Goronyo noted that quality road infrastructure serves as a major enabler of economic growth, facilitates movement of people and goods, reduces transportation costs, creates employment opportunities and strengthens trade across the country.
He said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has demonstrated unprecedented commitment to infrastructure development through significant investments in road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance.
The Minister highlighted the Federal Government’s flagship legacy highway projects, describing them as strategic infrastructure corridors designed to strengthen connectivity among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones and unlock economic opportunities.
He listed the projects to include the 750-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway; the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway; the Trans-Sahara Trade Route (Calabar–Abuja); and the 1,100-kilometre Akwanga–Jos–Maiduguri Superhighway.
Goronyo explained that the projects were not merely roads, but strategic economic lifelines designed to integrate communities, facilitate trade, strengthen regional connectivity and stimulate economic activities.
He further emphasised the importance of professional standards, regulatory compliance and accountability in the engineering sector, noting that the Federal Ministry of Works remains committed to ensuring that public infrastructure is delivered to the highest standards.
Goronyo said the Ministry had fully endorsed the proactive regulatory philosophy of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), including stronger sanctions for professional misconduct, technical monitoring mechanisms and enhanced professional development through the Engineering Residency Programme.
He stated that the Ministry, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. (Sen.) David Nweze Umahi, CON, was intensifying project audits and technical oversight to ensure that only qualified, competent and duly registered professionals are entrusted with critical public infrastructure projects.
Goronyo urged Nigerian engineers to see themselves as guardians of public safety and national development, stressing that engineering excellence must remain central to the delivery of durable and sustainable infrastructure.
He also extended an invitation to Nigerian engineers in the diaspora and international partners to bring their expertise, innovations, investments and global experience to Nigeria.
“Nigeria is open for business. Bring your talents, innovations and investments. Join us through Public-Private Partnerships, tax credit schemes and engineering collaborations. Together, we can build roads and bridges that do more than connect cities; they can connect dreams, aspirations, opportunities and prosperity,” he said.
Rt. Hon. Goronyo expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Glasgow Branch, for the invitation and for providing a platform for Nigerian engineers and international professionals to exchange ideas on how engineering can contribute to national development.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting President Tinubu’s vision of a Nigeria where movement is seamless, logistics are efficient, infrastructure is sustainable and prosperity is widely shared.
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