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Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi has opened up about the challenges, achievements, and transformative plans for the country’s road infrastructure since his appointment in August 2023.
In an interview with Arise News, Umahi highlighted the significant strides being made under President Tinubu’s administration while addressing the complexities of managing one of Nigeria’s most critical sectors.Umahi described his role as both challenging and fulfilling, shedding light on the complexities of managing the nation’s road sector and his commitment to delivering results.
“It’s quite challenging,” Umahi admitted when asked about his journey as minister. “It is an opportunity to be properly and totally exposed to the challenges of Nigeria in terms of road infrastructure. I’m happy that President Tinubu gave me that ministry to serve.
I’m very happy I have quite a challenging job. When I look at my past, with gratitude to God, I’ve never failed in any challenging situation I found myself. I believe that this one will come and pass with success.” On the question of tangible achievements since his appointment, Umahi emphasised the clear impact of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “First is the character and content of the man that gave us the job. Asking about the tangibles, the tangibles are very obvious.
The renewed hope agenda of Mr. President is reconstructing a number of our roads. There is new hope in the way we construct our roads, a new hope in the way we manage our roads, also in the critical infrastructure on road sector that we have embarked on. As this progresses, I would be able to mention quite a number of roads and what we are doing on such roads.” Reflecting on his hands-on approach, Umahi noted, “It is much bigger works, but the principle is the same. I wasn’t an office governor. I spent 70% of my time in the field. Most of the projects in Ebonyi State were designed by me. I believe strongly that when you have your mind working for the people, God will enable you to do things you were not trained to do. It’s about the passion, it’s about setting your mind on what you want to do.” Responding to the debate over the cost of concrete roads, Umahi credited President Tinubu with pioneering the use of concrete in Nigeria. “I’m not the inventor of a concrete road in Nigeria. I credit that to Mr. President. When he was the governor of Lagos State, there were challenges of water tables in places like Lekki and Victoria Island. Those areas have very high water tables. He started using what we call interlocking tiles, another kind of concrete road, and till today, those roads are still standing. Cost should not be the much to emphasise on.
” He highlighted the long-term economic benefits of these projects.
“This legacy project of Mr. President, they are not just road projects, they are investments, and they come with a lot of economic benefits. The critical roads that were inherited, we have selected a number of critical roads—between 9 and 15 per zone. Don’t forget we inherited 2,016 roads, 19 kilometres with a total cost as at that time of ₦13 trillion. If you review now, it would come to about ₦16–20 trillion.
” Umahi detailed the scope and vision of the Tinubu administration’s flagship road projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Road.
“Take the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway—750 kilometres. What are the benefits as at today? We are building a road, but we are going to have a lot of windmill energy. We are going to connect all the communities. Everywhere this road passes is an economic corridor. We are building residential houses, factories, industries, and we are connecting roads to the existing ones.
” He acknowledged challenges posed by the depreciation of the naira, stating, “Due to the floating of the naira, all the inherited projects are now being faced with new challenges, causing us to review the prices, which is in the right of the contractors.” Highlighting the innovation in road infrastructure, Umahi said, “The beauty of these roads is that the idea of Mr. President about federal roads is that every one of these roads is completed with solar lights, CCTV, and no more blocking of roads security-wise. There will be five-minute response times, meaning there would be relief stations where security personnel will stay and monitor what is going on. This is the new policy the President has directed the Ministers of Home Affairs and Works to do.” Umahi concluded by stressing the need for external funding to achieve the administration’s goals.
“We need to bring in external funding to do these roads. The roads being done would last between 50–100 years, and there would be less maintenance. That’s why it becomes very profitable that some of these roads would be operated and maintained. Nigerians would begin to have returns on investments, and there would be money coming from these roads into the national treasury for Nigerians.”
Boluwatife Enome
The post Umahi: Nigeria’s Legacy Road Projects Are Investments With Economic Benefits, Not Just Projects appeared first on Arise News.
