The Federal Government plans to engage 4,000 social media influencers to showcase its infrastructure projects and communicate its achievements to Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a report from the National Association of Nigerian Students on its inspection of federal road projects in Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Sokoto states.
Umahi said the proposed influencer network would help the government communicate directly with Nigerians, particularly young people, about ongoing and completed infrastructure projects.
“We have to fight this social media war. So, we have to launch 4,000 social media influencers to tell our stories,” the minister said.
He said the government needed to do more to communicate its infrastructure achievements to Nigerians, adding that social media could be used to provide information about projects being executed across the country.
Umahi also said the ministry would consider constructing pedestrian bridges around university campuses following concerns raised by NANS during its inspection of federal road projects.
He commended the students for independently inspecting government projects and assessing their impact on students and surrounding communities.
On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the minister said the 105-kilometre pavement currently under construction was expected to be completed by November.
He, however, expressed concern over vandalism along the highway, alleging that some people were destroying infrastructure, removing safety installations and damaging other facilities.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has also faced scrutiny over its environmental impact assessment, alignment and possible implications for flooding in Lagos.
The Federal Government has rejected claims that the highway caused flooding in Lagos, with Umahi maintaining that the project was designed with drainage infrastructure to help evacuate water and mitigate flooding.
The minister urged Nigerians to protect public infrastructure and said the government would continue to engage citizens in monitoring its projects.
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