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Tag: Umahi

  • World Bank partnership poised to transform Nigeria’s road sector – Umahi

    World Bank partnership poised to transform Nigeria’s road sector – Umahi

    Nigeria’s road sector stands to gain significantly from renewed collaboration with the World Bank as the Federal Ministry of Works intensifies efforts to close infrastructure gaps, improve road quality, and unlock sustainable financing for critical projects, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said.

    Umahi said the partnership was imperative, noting that efficient road networks are vital to trade, mobility, job creation and social development, and that infrastructure remains the backbone of any globally competitive economy.

    He stated this on Friday in Abuja while receiving a high-level World Bank delegation for a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s road infrastructure and boosting national economic competitiveness.

    He explained that the partnership with the World Bank offers Nigeria access to international expertise, modern financing models, and accountability frameworks that can accelerate the delivery of durable road projects.

    According to a statement by Clement Ezeora, Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, Umahi outlined the Federal Government’s “Build, Update and Maintain” strategy, under which the government constructs roads while the private sector maintains them. 

    The model, he said, ensures sustainability, reduces long-term costs, and improves service delivery.

    Umahi noted that rising construction costs have made infrastructure financing more challenging, regardless, he explained that the adoption of reinforced concrete pavement, which lasts far longer than asphalt, is already helping Nigeria reduce recurring repair costs.

    He listed priority projects that stand to benefit from enhanced World Bank support, including the East–West Road, Enugu–Onitsha Road, Kano–Jigawa–Maiduguri corridor, and the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

    The Minister disclosed that the Ministry inherited over 260 weak road links and 50 dilapidated bridges, prompting President Bola Tinubu to approve ₦20 billion for urgent interventions. 

    While he stressed that additional funding is required to complete major ongoing projects, the Minister formally requested World Bank financing for strategic roads, to be repaid through tolling systems, ensuring sustainability.

    Read Also: Tinubu has ended Southeast’s roads nightmare, says Umahi

    In his remarks, World Bank Country Director, Matthew Verghis, described roads as Nigeria’s most critical infrastructure asset, while Franz Drees-Gross noted that improved roads would drive job creation and poverty reduction

    Verghis further noted that the World Bank can only fund contracts that comply with World Bank procurement standards, stressing the importance of transparency, accountability, and due process in project execution.

    He highlighted the Bank’s interest in State road funds, maintenance agencies, flood control, and private-sector investment.

    Both parties pledged to strengthen collaboration to deliver resilient, inclusive, and sustainable road infrastructure nationwide.

  • Tinubu has ended Southeast’s roads nightmare, says Umahi

    Tinubu has ended Southeast’s roads nightmare, says Umahi

    • Minister expresses satisfaction with contractors handling Enugu–Onitsha road

    Works Minister David Umahi has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has broken the jinx of failed road contracts in the Southeast.

    He also expressed satisfaction with the contractors handling the Enugu–Onitsha road for doing a good job.

    The minister spoke at the weekend as he unveiled tougher engineering standards, strict deadlines and new technology to secure highways across the region.

    He addressed reporters in Enugu after an extensive inspection tour of major federal road and bridge projects across the Southeast and the Southsouth regions.

    Umahi said the Federal Government had placed a nationwide ban on all forms of mining activities within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges, as part of measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and enhance safety on highways.

    The minister said the ban followed an approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), stressing that enforcement mechanisms, including water patrols, would be deployed to ensure compliance, particularly around major bridges.

    “In line with the Federal Executive Council’s directive, there will be no mining of any sort within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges nationwide.

    READ ALSO: Let the truth speak in the Bauchi EFCC case

    “We are deploying patrol boats, just like we have done at the Third Mainland Bridge, to monitor compliance,” he said.

    The minister also announced a comprehensive rollout of CCTV surveillance systems and solar-powered streetlights on federal highways, beginning with completed and critical corridors.

    According to him, the initiative —already implemented on the Second Niger Bridge and Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos — is aimed at improving road safety, preventing criminal activities, and ensuring rapid emergency response.

    “Our commitment to deploying CCTV and solar lighting is not limited to bridges alone. Any completed federal highway will have CCTV, solar lights, and dedicated security vehicles. Our response time to incidents will not exceed five minutes,” Umahi stated.

    The minister said two operational vehicles have been procured for the police, with a monthly maintenance support of N3 million provided by the ministry to patrol the Second Niger Bridge.

    He expressed satisfaction with the progress of the 17.5-kilometre eastern bypass of the Second Niger Bridge, being executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCCC) at a cost of about N179 billion.

    Umahi said about 30 per cent of the project funding had been released, with plans to increase it to 50 per cent.

    The minister announced that a part of the project is expected to be inaugurated on April 20.

    The bypass includes two bridges and two flyovers, which the minister described as “impressive and well executed”.

    Umahi described the beleaguered  Enugu–Onitsha expressway as a major intervention driven by President Tinubu’s commitment to the Southeast.

    The 107-kilometre dual carriageway project, initially awarded to MTN under a tax credit scheme, had suffered years of delay.

    The minister said the scope was recently reviewed due to inflation and exchange rate fluctuations.

    “This is a road previous governments abandoned for decades. It is the audacity and determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that is ending this nightmare,” he said.

    Umahi stresssed that 15-kilometre and 18-kilometre sections of the road were being reconstructed with reinforced concrete, while the other less-damaged sections would be done with asphalt.

    According to him, the first 15-kilometre carriageway is expected to be completed within two weeks, alongside the installation of solar lights.

    The minister also announced a new policy prohibiting the removal of existing asphalt from federal roads.

    “No place in the country should remove asphalt from our roads again. We now have different treatments for different roads,” he said.

    Umahi explained that future designs would feature concrete shoulders on both sides, while carriageways would be strengthened using stone base, cement stabilisation, and improved asphalt layers.

    The minister also provided updates on the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, confirming that 61 kilometres on the Enugu-bound lane and three kilometres on the Port Harcourt-bound lane have been fully completed.

    He assured the region that the corridor would be fixed before 2026.

    Umahi also spoke on the Enugu–Ebonyi road, saying the Federal Government was reconstructing the stretch beyond the section already dualised by the Enugu State government.

    The ₦180 billion project, the minister said, would be executed in phases: the first phase to be completed this year.

    He warned that the Federal Government would not accept underperforming contractors, particularly CGC, handling parts of the Second Niger Bridge bypasses.

    Umahi said the company would be given 60 days to improve performance or risk contract termination and possible recovery of funds through performance guarantees.

    The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to deliver durable, safe, and modern road infrastructure across the Southeast and across the country.

    Also, Umahi has expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work being carried out by MTN Nigeria and its contractors on the reconstruction of the Enugu–Onitsha Road.

    Umahi announced this while addressing reporters at the weekend after inspecting reconstruction works on major federal roads in the Southeast.

    These include the critical Enugu–Onitsha corridor, long regarded as one of the most problematic highways in the region.

    The minister said the renewed attention on the road was a direct result of the commitment and determination of President Tinubu to address long-neglected infrastructure in the Southeast.

    “The Enugu–Onitsha Road has been a nightmare for decades. Previous governments, up to eight of them, never worked on this road. What we are seeing today is due to the audacity, determination and love President Tinubu has for the people of the Southeast,” Umahi said.

    The minister noted that the 107-kilometre project was initially awarded to MTN Nigeria under the tax credit scheme at N202 billion, out of which works valued at about N50 billion had been executed before the current administration came on board.

    He stated that following the floating of the naira and removal of fuel subsidy, project costs escalated, necessitating a re-scoping of the work to fit within available funds.

    Umahi said MTN, working with subcontractors – Nigercat and RCC – is handling the adjusted scope of work.

    “We are satisfied with what they have done so far. Where we have objections, we have pointed them out, and they have agreed to make corrections,” the minister stated.

    He said April 28 has been set as the target completion date for the ongoing phase, adding that the remaining works cover about 72 kilometres spread across four sections.

    According to him, two of the most critical sections — measuring 15 kilometres and 18 kilometres — are being constructed with reinforced concrete.

    “In the next two weeks, the first 15 kilometres of the carriageway will be completed, with only the shoulders remaining. We have also directed that solar streetlights should be completed on the first five kilometres by next week,” Umahi said.

    The minister announced that the Federal Ministry of Works was considering SKC to install solar streetlights on the 107-kilometre stretch, excluding sections where the Anambra State government has provided lighting.

    He said the Enugu–Onitsha road project would be “a sight to behold” upon completion.

    Umahi also said all credit would go to President Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to ending decades of hardship faced by road users.

    “All the nightmares on that road will come to an end under President Tinubu. The Southeast should be grateful because what we have long expected has come to pass,” Umahi said.

    The minister applauded the performance of all contractors on site, including Nigercat, RCC, and SKC.

    He added that while asphalt would be used on less damaged sections, priority was being given to the worst portions of the road.

    “We count one before we count two. The most terrible sections must be fixed first before moving to the relatively better areas,” Umahi added.

  • Umahi commends MTN Nigeria for Progress on Enugu–Onitsha road reconstruction

    Umahi commends MTN Nigeria for Progress on Enugu–Onitsha road reconstruction

    The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of reconstruction work being executed by MTN Nigeria and its contractors on the Enugu–Onitsha Road.

    Umahi gave the assessment on Saturday in Enugu during a press briefing after inspecting ongoing federal road projects across the Southeast, including the long-troubled Enugu–Onitsha corridor.

    He attributed the renewed focus on the highway to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to address long-neglected infrastructure in the region. Umahi described the road as a decades-long nightmare, noting that successive administrations failed to undertake meaningful rehabilitation.

    “The Enugu–Onitsha Road has been a nightmare for decades. Previous governments, up to eight of them, never worked on this road. What we are seeing today is due to the audacity, determination, and love President Tinubu has for the people of the Southeast,” he said.

    Read Also: Police arrest three suspects over killing of housewife, six children in Kano

    The minister explained that the 107-kilometre project was initially awarded to MTN Nigeria under the tax credit scheme for N202 billion, with about N50 billion worth of work completed before the current administration assumed office.

    He added that naira depreciation and the removal of fuel subsidy triggered cost escalations, prompting a rescoping of the project to align with available resources. MTN, in collaboration with subcontractors Nigercat and RCC, is presently executing the revised scope of work.

    “We are satisfied with what they have done so far. Where we have objections, we have pointed them out, and they have agreed to make corrections,” the minister stated.

    He disclosed that April 28 has been set as the target completion date for the ongoing phase, adding that the remaining works cover about 72 kilometres spread across four sections.

    According to him, two of the most critical sections—measuring 15 kilometres and 18 kilometres—are being constructed with reinforced concrete.

    “In the next two weeks, the first 15 kilometres of the carriageway will be completed, with only the shoulders remaining. We have also directed that solar streetlights should be completed on the first five kilometres by next week,” Umahi said.

    The minister further revealed that the Federal Ministry of Works is considering assigning SKC the responsibility of installing solar streetlights along the entire 107-kilometre stretch, excluding sections where the Anambra State Government has already provided lighting.

    He described the Enugu–Onitsha Road project as one that would be “a sight to behold” upon completion, stressing that all credit would go to President Tinubu for his commitment to ending decades of hardship faced by road users.

    “All the nightmares on that road will come to an end under President Tinubu. The Southeast should be grateful because what we have long expected has come to pass,” Umahi said.

    He commended the performance of all contractors on site, including Nigercat, RCC, and SKC, noting that while asphalt will be used on less damaged sections, priority is being given to the most severely damaged portions of the road.

    “We count one before we count two. The most terrible sections must be fixed first before moving to the relatively better areas,” the minister added.

  • Leadership beyond delegation: Umahi’s unmatched supervisory prowess drives quality, speed across federal projects

    Leadership beyond delegation: Umahi’s unmatched supervisory prowess drives quality, speed across federal projects

    • By Gbenga Abiola

    In the evolving story of Nigeria’s infrastructure rebirth, the working relationship between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Engr. David Umahi has become a powerful testament to how vision and execution must walk hand in hand. President Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, has set a clear direction anchored on efficiency, accountability, and national renewal. 

    Entrusted with this mandate, the Honourable Minister of Works has translated presidential confidence into tireless action, taking governance beyond the office and firmly onto the project sites. It is a relationship defined by trust, one that demands results and rewards performance.

    Engr. Umahi’s leadership style reflects this bond across Nigeria’s major federal road corridors. His hands-on supervision has been evident in the ongoing acceleration of high impact projects, from the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, where he personally inspected multiple sections in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, lauding quality standards and directing round-the-clock work, to the Abuja Kaduna Kano Expressway, where he emphasised durable concrete pavement technology and strict timeline enforcement. His presence on these corridors has ensured that stalled sections progress steadily and contractors remain disciplined, accountable, and committed to delivering world-class roads.

    Nowhere is Umahi’s commitment more visible than in the recently concluded CCTV installation on the Third Mainland Bridge, Nigeria’s busiest and most strategic bridge. Acting on the Renewed Hope emphasis on safety, innovation, and protection of national assets, Engr. Umahi personally supervised the deployment of this critical surveillance infrastructure. 

    The project provides real-time monitoring, enhances security coordination, and safeguards millions of daily commuters. In tandem, he has overseen rehabilitation works on the bridge’s structural sections, ensuring the deck pavement, substructures, and support systems are restored to meet long-term durability standards.

    His supervision extends to numerous other strategic projects, including ongoing upgrades on the Ore Ondo Akure Road, dualized segments of the Sokoto Zamfara Katsina Kaduna corridor, the Zaria Hunkuyi route, the Kano Northern Bypass, and key sections of the East West Road. 

    In Lagos, he has closely monitored work on the Ikorodu Itoki Road, directing night-time excavation and backfilling to minimize disruption, while ensuring contractors adhere strictly to specifications. Even urban bridges like the Iddo Bridge have received his personal attention, with progress carefully reviewed to restore critical transport links efficiently.

    Beyond individual corridors, Umahi has instituted systemic supervision across the Ministry of Works, assigning directors and engineering teams to specific projects with clear accountability for reporting, quality checks, and real-time problem-solving. This approach has created a culture of speed, discipline, and transparency in federal infrastructure delivery, where projects are not only monitored but executed with precision, reflecting a leadership philosophy that combines presence, authority, and purpose.

    The cumulative effect of these interventions is unmistakable. Road projects once slowed by delays are now advancing simultaneously across regions, security measures on critical bridges have been strengthened, and contractors are performing to higher standards. These achievements are a direct embodiment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, demonstrating that where leadership is present and supervision is hands-on, action follows and tangible results are delivered.

    Under President Tinubu’s strategic vision and Engr. David Umahi’s unprecedented commitment to personal oversight, Nigerians are witnessing a transformation in infrastructure delivery, one that moves beyond paper plans to visible, long-lasting impact, ensuring the nation’s roads and bridges serve present needs and future generations alike.

    – Gbenga Abiola is the national coordinator, Tinubu Media Force

  • Mararaba–Keffi expressway: Umahi sacks works controller over alleged fraudulent certification

    Mararaba–Keffi expressway: Umahi sacks works controller over alleged fraudulent certification

    Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed the immediate removal of a Controller of Works over allegations of fraudulent certification of unexecuted and incomplete projects, warning that negligence and indiscipline within the Ministry will no longer be condoned.

    Umahi issued the directive on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing expansion of the Mararaba–Keffi Expressway. He accused the official of issuing certificates that facilitated payments for jobs that were either partially executed or not carried out at all.

    “I am directing the Permanent Secretary to remove the Controller with immediate effect and send him to my office to learn how to obey instructions. Another Controller should be redeployed immediately to take over,” Umahi stated.

    He added that the same official had previously certified palliative works that were never executed, leading to unwarranted payments to contractors.

    Declaring 2026 an “action year,” the Minister warned officials of the Ministry of Works that disobedience, negligence, and collusion with contractors would attract strict sanctions. He emphasised that discipline and diligence would guide all operations going forward.

    Umahi further noted that Ministry officials deployed to project sites have full authority to enforce directives from the Minister or his representatives, and contractors’ failure to comply should result in denial of certificates or immediate escalation to higher authorities.

    “When action is taken, no amount of pleading will reverse it. I report directly to Mr President,” he said.

    The warning accompanied a firm ultimatum issued to China Harbour Engineering Company, the contractor handling a 43-kilometre section of the Mararaba–Keffi Expressway. Umahi mandated that the road be completed and handed over on or before February 28, 2026.

    Expressing dissatisfaction with the pace of work and the contractor’s disregard for earlier directives, he ordered the removal of hand-moulded caps along the corridor, the commencement of median concreting, and the installation of solar-powered street lights across the entire stretch. He also directed the contractor to submit a detailed work schedule and a written commitment to meet the February deadline.

    “I am giving you the end of February to hand over this job. You must come to my office on Wednesday with your timetable and a commitment to complete the project by then,” the Minister warned.

    He urged both Ministry officials and contractors to act in the interest of Nigerians, stressing that sanctions imposed on erring officers would stand unless reversed by the President.

    “I need your prayers. I will have many fights, but I am not afraid of any,” he asserted.

  • 2026 will see faster road projects, stricter monitoring — Umahi assures Nigerians

    2026 will see faster road projects, stricter monitoring — Umahi assures Nigerians

    The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerated delivery of road infrastructure, assuring Nigerians that 2026 will be characterised by intensified monitoring, faster project execution and measurable impact across federal road projects nationwide.

    In his New Year message on Thursday, Umahi said the year offers fresh opportunities to consolidate gains recorded under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with strong emphasis on the ongoing road infrastructure drive.

    He explained that, for the Federal Ministry of Works, 2026 would be a period of strategic recalibration aimed at maximising outcomes in road construction and rehabilitation across the country.

    “For us in the Federal Ministry of Works, the new year is a time to recalibrate our mechanisms towards achieving maximum impact on the Renewed Hope Agenda on road infrastructure revolution. It is a time to step up monitoring mechanisms and supervision geared towards accelerating the construction of the Renewed Hope legacy projects as well as the rehabilitation of existing federal roads nationwide,” the minister said.

    Read Also: Umahi commiserates with Anthony Joshua, Balogun market fire victims

    Umahi also commended President Tinubu’s leadership, attributing progress in the sector to policy reforms, innovative funding models and increased private sector participation, which he described as key drivers of sustainable road infrastructure development.

    “I am incredibly fortunate to work for the most impressive and visionary leader, Tinubu, who has continued to wield a strong willpower through policy regeneration and creative funding mechanisms including his efforts to foster private sector inclusion in the development of our road infrastructure,” he said, adding that the administration’s interventions were designed to ensure roads stand the test of time.

    The Minister commended the management and staff of the ministry for their strength of character, tenacity of purpose, hard work, and unshakable zeal to revamp Nigeria’s road infrastructure, expressing confidence in sustained collaboration in the year ahead.

    As the year begins, Umahi urged staff of the Federal Ministry of Works to approach the tasks ahead with unity and optimism, while wishing Nigerians a peaceful and prosperous 2026.

    “May the new year bless all and sundry with unwavering faith and fill your hearts with hope and strength throughout this year and always,” he said.

  • Umahi commiserates with Anthony Joshua, Balogun market fire victims

    Umahi commiserates with Anthony Joshua, Balogun market fire victims

    The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has expressed deep condolences to Anthony Joshua over the recent accident involving his vehicle along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, resulting in the death of two persons.

    He also described the fire incident at the Balogun market, which claimed many lives and destroyed property, as devastating and called on the victims to bear the loss with equanimity.

    Senator Umahi, while expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased, attributed the accident to illegal parking of trucks along the Federal highway, expressing his ministry’s resolve to ensure strict compliance with the earlier directive that no vehicles, especially trucks, will be allowed to park on the highway.

    Umahi disclosed that a special task force will be formed in February 2026, involving officers of the Ministry with security agencies, to ensure there is no illegal parking of trucks on the highway.

    Read Also: Yuletide: Umahi appeals for reflection, harmony, shared progress

    He described the accident as avoidable and maintained that his ministry is working with safer highway security agencies to ensure that no broken-down vehicles are allowed on the highway and no individuals are allowed to use the highway to sun-dry their farm produce.

    Umahi further expressed sadness over the unfortunate fire incident at the Balogun market, Lagos, which claimed some lives and property worth hundreds of millions lost.

    He consoled with families who lost their loved ones and expressed optimism that the Federal Government and Lagos state government would come to their aid and ensure restoration.

  • Southeast will vote massively for Tinubu, Nwifuru — Umahi

    Southeast will vote massively for Tinubu, Nwifuru — Umahi

    Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Tuesday declared that the Southeast will vote massively for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state in the 2027 general election.

    He insisted that the region’s interests are better secured through strategy, unity, and constructive engagement rather than sentiments.

    Umahi made the assertion at his country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, while receiving various political, religious, and community groups who paid him a Christmas homage.

    Addressing the gathering, the former Ebonyi State governor said the Southeast has no reason to deceive itself about its political choices, stressing that President Tinubu has demonstrated commitment to the development of the region through major infrastructure projects.

    “You ask me what the President has done for the Southeast, and I will tell you what he has done for the Southeast,” Umahi said.

    Enumerating various ongoing federal projects as evidence of inclusion of the region, Umahi declared, “We are talking about real projects, not social media sentiments.”

    He listed the Second Niger Bridge, the Enugu–Onitsha (Nnewi) Road, the Owerri–Aba Road, and other major highways across the region as tangible achievements of the Tinubu administration, describing them as the “real Biafra” the people should focus on.

    “The road to Onitsha is Biafra. The Second Niger Bridge is Biafra. These are the Biafra we are looking for — not the Biafra of sentiments or social media,” he said.

    Umahi emphasised that Nigeria is built on a tripod and warned against any action that would weaken one leg of the nation.

    He noted that the Southeast has been marginalized historically but argued that such marginalization can only be addressed through wisdom, political strategy, and national engagement.

    Read Also: Yuletide: Umahi appeals for reflection, harmony, shared progress

    “We can never win by sentiment. We can never win by hate. We can only win by strategy. When it is our turn to become President, we must be wise enough to position ourselves.”

    The minister called on Southeast people across the country to obey the laws and cultures of their host communities, urging them to remain humble, courageous, and law-abiding wherever they reside.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us. Nobody should intimidate us, but we must also respect the culture and laws of wherever we find ourselves,” he added.

    Umahi assured his visitors that the Southeast is now more included at the federal level and urged the region to reciprocate the current administration’s gestures with massive electoral support.

    “Our votes will not be wasted on sentiments again. The Southeast will be strategic, and the Southeast will vote massively for President Tinubu,” he declared.

  • Yuletide: Umahi appeals for reflection, harmony, shared progress

    Yuletide: Umahi appeals for reflection, harmony, shared progress

    The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged Nigerians to embrace love, compassion and unity as Christians across the country mark the Christmas season, describing the celebration as a period for reflection, gratitude and renewed commitment to peaceful coexistence.

    In his Christmas message on Thursday, Umahi said the season commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and offers an opportunity for individuals and communities to reflect on values that promote harmony and shared progress.

    Umahi noted that Christmas calls on believers to reflect on the purpose of Christ’s birth and to emulate the virtues of love, charity, faith and hope in their daily lives.

    “We are called by this commemoration to imitate His virtues of love, charity, faith, and hope and to share the values we learnt from His birth with warmth and tenderness,” he said.

    The Minister said the significance of Christmas extends beyond celebration, adding that it speaks to Nigeria’s collective pursuit of peace and stronger social bonds. He urged citizens to deepen their connection with God through love, gratitude and respect for diversity.

    Umahi also commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as bold and visionary leadership, particularly in driving national development and reforms within the works sector.

    “Great and mighty things are being done by President Tinubu’s administration to secure a new order in our developmental trajectory and bequeath a stronger and better future for Nigeria,” he said, expressing gratitude to the President for his developmental initiatives.

    Read Also: Yuletide: FRSC distributes table water, sensitises motorists on road safety in Ondo

    He called on Nigerians to continue supporting the ideals of Christmas, including community spirit, compassion and goodwill towards one another.

    The Minister also extended special appreciation to staff of the Federal Ministry of Works, praising their discipline and dedication in advancing the government’s infrastructure agenda.

    “I would like to convey my season’s greetings and best wishes to the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Works who have, through positive attitudes, discipline, and dedication, created a supportive work environment for us to achieve set goals in accordance with the Renewed Hope agenda,” Umahi said.

    Wishing Nigerians a joyful festive season, Umahi prayed that the spirit of Christmas brings hope, happiness and renewed optimism across the country.

    “As we celebrate God’s love through the birth of our Lord Jesus and the hope He brings to the world, may the spirit of Christmas fill the hearts of all Nigerians with joy,” the Minister said.

  • Umahi counters Abaribe says Tinubu has delivered inclusive governance, massive projects in Southeast 

    Umahi counters Abaribe says Tinubu has delivered inclusive governance, massive projects in Southeast 

    The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s record in the South East, dismissing claims by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe that the region has no reason to support the President and warning that such assertions distort facts and ignore measurable progress.

    Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing, Umahi said Abaribe’s remarks amounted to an attack on both his personal integrity and the reality of federal investment in the South East under the Tinubu administration.

    Umahi said his response was neither emotional nor partisan, but rooted in governance, facts and verifiable outcomes, “I am not speaking as a politician, I am speaking as a Minister who is directly involved in implementation and who knows what is happening on ground,” he emphasised.

    He insisted that the South East has benefitted significantly under Tinubu, stressing that governors from the region are fully aligned with the President.

    “All of the South East governments are supporting the president, because the president has provided inclusive governance in the country,” he said.

    Using Abia State as an example, Umahi rejected claims of marginalisation, pointing to what he described as the strong performance of Governor Alex Otti, saying, “The performance of Governor Otti is a product of the national environment created by President Bola Tinubu. 

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    “If we did not have the audacity and courage to bring this moment to the sub nationals, Governor Otti would not be doing what he is doing”.

    He said Governor Otti himself had acknowledged the role of the Federal government in enabling reforms and development at the state level.

    Umahi contrasted the current administration with the previous one, accusing the past government of excluding the South East from key national security positions for eight years.

    “How can a zone be totally excluded. President Bola Tinubu corrected that wickedness,” he affirmed.

    He cited the appointment of a South East officer as Chief of the Naval Staff, followed by other strategic security roles, and disclosed that the President recently approved the establishment of an army depot in Abia State.

    He said: “This is very key. The president has favoured Abia State and by extension the entire South East by providing an army training level to tackle insecurity”.

    Umahi dismissed Abaribe’s claim that the South East would not vote for Tinubu in 2027, saying it reflected a personal opinion rather than the region’s collective position.

    “He was talking about himself. The governors of the South East are very happy and very grateful,” the Minister stressed.

    He defended the administration’s economic reforms, citing improvements in currency stability, inflation moderation, student loan interventions, food price monitoring and enhanced security operations.

    The worst is over. President Tinubu is taking back the country for Nigerians.

    Calling for restraint and responsibility in public discourse, Umahi warned against what he described as deliberate misinformation.

    When people counsel without knowledge, it becomes dangerous.

    He urged South East citizens to embrace national unity and reject narratives of exclusion.

    This country belongs to all of us. No one is a stranger. We all have equal rights.

    On infrastructure, Umahi listed multiple Federal projects across the region, saying they directly contradicted claims of neglect, citing the Enugu power plant, which he said became functional under Tinubu, and several major road and bridge projects in Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo States.

    He also defended the Lagos 

    -Calabar Coastal Highway project, describing allegations of procurement breaches as a direct attack on his integrity.

    “There are three kinds of procurement processes under the Procurement Act. I want him to go and study it and come back to tell me whether there was any infringement,” he explained.

    Umahi said the project complied fully with Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) requirements and underwent extensive stakeholder engagement.

    “The Dutch Development Bank evaluated it and came out to say the project is properly packaged, the quality is of very high standard, and that is why it was oversubscribed by one hundred million dollars,” he pointed out.

    He further listed ongoing projects including the Trans Saharan road section linking South East States valued at four hundred and fifty six billion naira, the Second Niger Bridge bypass at one hundred and seventy billion naira, the Enugu-Abakaliki dual carriageway, and several tax credit funded roads involving Dangote Industries.

    “That road has been ongoing for the past twenty years and was put to rest by President Tinubu,” he noted.

    Umahi also pointed to completed and near completed flyovers in Enugu and improved connectivity between Aba and Port Harcourt, saying, “Before, you could not travel between Aba and Port Harcourt, today, one carriageway is fully completed”.

    The Minister said aggressive road investment remains central to the President’s economic strategy, “Roads are the catalyst that grows the GDP. Every other sector grows from it,” he said 

    He disclosed that the Ministry of Works has deployed over eighty independent media supervisors to monitor projects and report progress directly to the public.

    They go to the corridors, interview people, video the projects and post them, so Nigerians can see and comment.

    He also announced the Presidential Infrastructure and Engineering Leadership Programme, under which ten young civil engineers from each state will be attached to major projects to acquire hands on skills, alongside artisans such as carpenters, electricians, mechanics and equipment operators, with implementation beginning in January.

    On contract reforms, Umahi said the government has abolished abusive variation of price practices, “If we give you a job, you must do the job. You cannot bid low and later come back with excuses,” he stressed.

    He said advance payments must now be exhausted before further claims are made, while anti corruption agencies have been directed to verify all federal road projects awarded since 2020, “If you have any petition, write to EFCC or ICPC. They are already on site,” he added.

    Umahi added that the government is leveraging innovative financing models, committing thirty percent counterpart funding while attracting up to seventy percent international financing, with several investors expressing interest in highway concessions.