I didn’t concentrate road projects in Southeast — Umahi

ABAKALIKI — Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has denied allegations that he has concentrated federal road projects in the South-East geopolitical zone, saying projects under his ministry are distributed across the country in line with approvals by President Bola Tinubu.

Umahi spoke while inspecting the Trans-Sahara Highway, which starts from Afikpo in Ebonyi State, traverses Ador in Benue State, Nsukka, parts of Kogi State and terminates 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.

He also assured that he would cross the Ador Bridge during his next inspection visit to the project.

Umahi said allegations on social media that he had cornered road projects to the South-East were unfounded, insisting that the distribution of projects was based on federal government approvals.

“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.

He added: “So, where will he be when I corner our projects to the South-East?”

The minister said the South-East deserved infrastructure development, but argued that the region was not being given preferential treatment at the expense of other parts of the country.

“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,” he said.

“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 administration’s approach to infrastructure financing, arguing that borrowing for productive infrastructure could be justified where the funds were deployed to projects capable of generating long-term economic benefits.

He cited the Ebonyi State ring road, saying 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.

Umahi argued that the cost of constructing the project today would be significantly higher, adding that infrastructure financing should be assessed against the economic benefits of timely investment.

“I don’t believe in saving money, saving food when the people are hungry,” he said.

The minister said the federal government had also 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 dismissed claims that the administration had abandoned existing roads in favour of constructing new ones, saying several of the projects involved 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.

He also defended the administration’s infrastructure and economic reform agenda, saying the projects being executed were intended to address longstanding infrastructure deficits.

Umahi, who is 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.

He said continued support would enable the government to complete ongoing projects and sustain its reform programme.

The minister further cited Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, which he said were about $55 billion, as an indication of developments under the administration.