Umahi says Tinubu is better for South-East development

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The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has stated that President Bola Tinubu's government is more committed to developing the South-East than past governments.

Umahi made this statement at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday. He talked about the Federal Government’s ongoing infrastructure projects across Nigeria.

He mentioned that while the South-East may not have the most Federal Government projects, it is no longer left out of important national infrastructure plans.

Umahi, who has been a party chairman, deputy governor, and governor, said earlier governments did not bring significant Federal projects to the region.

“I was a party chairman. I was a deputy governor. I was governor. And no single project of the Federal Government came to South-East,” Umahi said.

He believes things have changed under Tinubu, with the South-East now enjoying what he calls a wave of Federal projects.

“Today, we are having a barrage of projects. We may not be the first, second or third in terms of the volume of projects in the regions, but we are not the last,” he noted.

Umahi said this progress is important because the South-East is now part of the national infrastructure development agenda.

He pointed out that the Tinubu administration is doing what previous governments could not by better integrating the South-East into national plans.

The minister revealed that Tinubu recently approved two major projects for the region. These include the Obanewi-Okiwe road linking parts of Imo and another road connecting Otuocha in Anambra to Ibaji in Kogi.

He also mentioned the Second Niger Bridge and its bypass projects as clear signs that the Federal Government is serious about improving transport in the South-East.

Umahi encouraged the people of the South-East to show appreciation for the Federal Government’s projects by working more closely with other regions.

“This is the right time. Let us have a handshake across the Niger, so that when our time comes, we will also be supported,” he said.

He stressed the need for Nigerians to move past regional politics and build a stronger national political system that encourages support and growth.

Umahi reiterated his commitment to national interests over regional ones.

He also dismissed rumors of major divisions within the All Progressives Congress. This includes speculation about his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Umahi referred to Wike as a progressive and mentioned that both ministers are still part of the same political family despite any perceived differences.

“We need Wike as Wike needs us. So, it’s one family,” he said, adding that their differences have been blown out of proportion by political rivals.

The minister also shared that the Ministry of Works has 2,068 ongoing projects worth about N13 trillion, and they are working hard to solve the country’s infrastructure problems.

Umahi argued that borrowing for infrastructure should be seen as an investment, especially when these projects can generate returns and help the economy grow.

On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the minister defended the procurement process. He explained that the law allows open competitive tendering, selective tendering, and special procurement as valid methods.

He stated that the first phase of the coastal highway used special procurement due to the project's challenging terrain and the need for a contractor with specific skills in coastal engineering.

He added that the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council approved this process.

Umahi mentioned that the external financing for the project was oversubscribed by over $100 million, showing that it was handled transparently.

He also defended the ministry's choice of concrete pavement for major highways, stating it would last longer and could endure for decades if properly designed and maintained.

The minister revealed that the Federal Government has started “Operation Rescue” on the Asaba-Benin road to address issues with its concession.

He said the government has stepped in to help seven sections of the road while planning to redesign and reconstruct it with concrete pavement.

On the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, Umahi announced that the first 119-kilometre section is done, and the second section of 164 kilometres should be finished by November 15.

He added that the various infrastructure projects across Nigeria show the administration’s commitment to fixing the country’s infrastructure problems and improving connections between communities and regions.

“There is no part of this country, there is no state that is not a construction site under President Bola Tinubu,” Umahi said.