The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to maintaining high-quality roads across all 36 states of Nigeria.
Speaking during a town hall meeting and stakeholder engagement organized by the Federal Ministry of Works, Umahi emphasized that the ministry remains focused on its objectives despite the challenges it faces. The event, held in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, centered on the alignment of the 63-kilometre segment of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
Umahi highlighted the significance of the coastal highway for the economic development of the states it traverses and for the nation as a whole. He acknowledged his accountability for the existing deficiencies in federal road infrastructure, stating, “When we came on board, we found that President Tinubu inherited 20,604 projects, totaling N13 trillion, with contractors owed N1.6 trillion for completed work. The President, a man of courage, is committed to addressing these long-standing projects, some of which have been pending for 5 to 20 years. He believes these projects should be completed within 14 months, and I will take responsibility if they are not.”
Umahi explained the procurement process, emphasizing the need for contractors to demonstrate financial capability before receiving mobilization fees. “We are committed to turning our stone to bread. There are no complaints; we are not distracted. I take responsibility for any failures, whether it be a poorly maintained road or a project that is not progressing as it should. Rest assured, we are not idle. Ondo State is an oil-producing region and a vital part of our national economy. Mr. President’s commitment to this legacy project is not merely about road construction; it is an investment in our future.”
We are committed to turning our stone to bread. There is no complaint. We are not distracted. I take responsibility for every failure, any road that is bad, any road that is ongoing and not being constructed. But be assured that we are not sleeping. The Ondo state is an oil-producing state, which is a key state to our nation’s economy. The commitment of Mr President in this legacy project is not just constructing a road it is an investment.”
He assured that his ministry would not abandon any projects and warned that any contractor neglecting federal projects would face contract termination. “We have already terminated over ten contracts with major companies, and we are prepared to terminate more if necessary. Our operations are transparent, and we will finalize the design for Ondo State by the end of November, followed by an inauguration.”
Umahi also directed federal road controllers to provide detailed reports on all roads in their jurisdictions, whether awarded or not, with the goal of ensuring all federal highways are motorable by Christmas. He announced plans to resume the Aiyetoro project following the completion of current initiatives, expressing confidence in President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing various sectors of the economy.
In his remarks, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa praised President Tinubu for the coastal highway initiative, emphasizing that the project is not politically motivated and has already commenced in other sections. “The President is supporting us economically. I want to express my gratitude for all the projects across the country. These initiatives will greatly benefit us, and we will cooperate with the Federal Government and the contractors,” he stated.
Akin Alabi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, also commended the President and the Minister for their dedication to improving Nigeria’s road infrastructure. “We at the House of Representatives fully support the President and the Minister of Works. Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria works effectively. We must put an end to the practice of contractors receiving payment without performing. If contractors are not on-site, they should not be paid; this has been one of the biggest issues in the ministry,” he emphasized.