The Federal Government plans to engage 4,000 social media influencers to publicise infrastructure projects delivered under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Minister of Works David Umahi has said.

Umahi disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a report from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on its inspection of federal road projects in Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna and Sokoto states.

According to the minister, the proposed influencer network will help the government communicate its achievements directly to Nigerians, particularly young people ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We have to fight this social media war. We have to launch 4,000 social media influencers to tell our stories,” Umahi said.

He said Nigerians needed to be informed about the projects and other achievements recorded by the administration.

Umahi also said the government would consider constructing pedestrian bridges around university campuses following concerns raised by NANS during its inspection.

The minister commended the students’ body for independently inspecting federal projects and assessing their impact.

On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said the 105-kilometre pavement currently under construction would be completed by November.

He, however, expressed concern over alleged vandalism along the highway, saying some people were destroying infrastructure and removing safety installations.

The coastal highway has faced controversy over its environmental impact assessment, alignment and possible implications for flooding in Lagos.

Following recent flooding in parts of Lagos, some stakeholders called for an independent assessment of whether the highway’s alignment, construction and drainage system contributed to the flooding.

The Federal Government has rejected claims that the coastal highway caused the flooding.

Umahi said the highway was designed to help mitigate flooding, adding that drainage infrastructure had been incorporated into the project to evacuate water from surrounding areas.

He urged Nigerians to protect public infrastructure and said the government would continue to involve citizens in monitoring its projects.