Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed allegations that the Federal Government is concentrating road projects in the South-East, insisting that projects under his ministry are distributed across the country based on approvals from President Bola Tinubu.
Umahi made the clarification while inspecting the Trans-Sahara Highway, which begins from Afikpo in Ebonyi State, passes through Ador in Benue State and Nsukka, as well as parts of Kogi State, before terminating at Owete Bridge in the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister directed the contractor handling the project to work on three sections simultaneously to accelerate construction and ensure timely completion.
He also promised to cross the Ador Bridge during his next inspection visit to the project.
Addressing claims on social media that he had concentrated federal road projects in the South-East, Umahi said such allegations were unfounded, stressing that all projects were approved by the President.
“They want to gag me on social media when they say I cornered all the road projects to the South-East. That is very wonderful. But we have publication of all projects ongoing. So, I’m not on my own. The President is my boss,” he said.
Umahi added, “So, where will he be when I corner our projects to the South-East?”
The minister acknowledged that the South-East deserved greater infrastructure development but maintained that the region was not receiving preferential treatment at the expense of other parts of the country.
He said, “Some people are not happy that, for the first time, South-East people are getting their own share of the infrastructure of our nation. And so, there is nothing like that.”
“I have always said that the South-East, in terms of infrastructure development, may not be first or second or third. Definitely, they will not be the last.”
Umahi also defended the Federal Government’s approach to infrastructure financing, arguing that borrowing for productive projects could be justified when the funds were invested in infrastructure capable of generating long-term economic benefits.
He cited the Ebonyi State ring road, noting that the state borrowed $150 million during his tenure as governor to construct 199 kilometres of the road.
“We borrowed because we knew what to do with the money. When you don’t know what to do with the money, you go and say you are saving and they want people to clap for you. What kind of economics is that?” he said.
According to the minister, the cost of constructing the same project today would be significantly higher, making timely infrastructure investment important to economic development.
“I don’t believe in saving money, saving food when the people are hungry,” Umahi said.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government had combined naira funding with foreign financing for some of its legacy infrastructure projects.
“All the four legacy projects, for example, each of the projects has been 30 per cent funded in naira by the Federal Government. The other 70 per cent is foreign financing,” he said.
Umahi also rejected claims that the administration had abandoned existing roads in favour of constructing new ones, explaining that several ongoing projects involve the expansion and rehabilitation of existing road corridors.
“And so, when people say, well, you have left all the existing roads to build new ones, that is not true. We came through existing roads that were expanded,” he said.
The minister maintained that the administration’s infrastructure projects were designed to address longstanding deficits and support economic development.
Umahi, a member of the All Progressives Congress, also urged residents of the South-East and other parts of the country to support Tinubu’s administration, saying continued support would help the government complete ongoing projects and sustain its reform programme.
He further cited Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, which he put at about $55 billion, as evidence of developments recorded under the administration.
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