Nigeria Needs $120bn for Federal Roads – TUC

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has stated that the country would need an estimated $120bn to construct its federal road network, a sum that is roughly four times the size of its annual budget.

The union described the gap between Nigeria’s infrastructure needs and available resources as alarming, accusing much of the political leadership of lacking the vision and innovation required to revive the economy.

Speaking on Monday at the second edition of the TUC South-West Summit 2025 in Lagos, TUC President-General Festus Osifo cited a 2013 study that put the cost of constructing all federal roads at $120bn.

He noted that Nigeria’s current budget, which stands between $30bn and $35bn, is already heavily committed to salaries, education, healthcare, defence, and other essential services.

“If constructing all our roads will cost $120bn, and the size of our budget is $30bn, it means we need four times our budget just to fix roads, without paying salaries, funding education, or providing healthcare,” Osifo told delegates. “This is why we must grow our revenue base and stop pretending that oil alone can sustain this country.”

He criticised successive governments for failing to diversify the economy in any meaningful way despite Nigeria’s vast opportunities in agriculture and solid minerals. According to him, the chronic underfunding of infrastructure is not only due to low revenue generation but also stems from weak political leadership.

“Most of our political heads, from governors to local government chairmen, are relatively lazy. In some rural councils, you will not see the chairman until allocations arrive,” Osifo said. “We cannot continue with leaders who wait for monthly allocations before doing anything. They must think beyond the obvious and work for the people.”

He contrasted Nigeria’s performance with that of countries with smaller landmasses and fewer natural resources, which earn more from agriculture than Nigeria currently generates from oil exports. “We have arable land, we have human capital, yet we leave them idle while relying on a single commodity that the world is steadily moving away from,” he added.

Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Establishments and Training Afolabi Ayantayo acknowledged the validity of the TUC President’s concerns. He called for stronger partnerships between government and organised labour, noting that Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad were underutilised and often failed to secure export markets for local produce and manufactured goods.

“Collaboration is key. We must invest in skills development, fair wages, and policies that address inflation and the rising cost of living,” Mr Ayantayo said. “In Lagos, we are committed to workers’ welfare and timely salary payments, but we also recognise the need to push productivity and innovation.”

The summit, themed Collaborate to Transform: Building Capacity for Regional Excellence and Workers’ Welfare, gathered labour leaders, government representatives, and private sector experts to discuss strategies for driving economic growth in the South-West. Panel sessions explored topics such as agriculture, leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, and the role of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

In his closing remarks, Osifo reiterated that unless Nigeria’s leaders adopt more proactive and resourceful approaches, the country will remain trapped in a cycle of inadequate budgets, deteriorating infrastructure, and wasted opportunities.

“The $120bn needed to fix our roads is not just a number but a reflection of how far behind we are. Only bold and innovative leadership can bridge that gap,” he concluded.