Investigatorsnews

- Joyce Onuora, Abakaliki

The Hon. Minister of Works, Engr David Nweze Umahi has reassured Nigerians that the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is on course, in its determination to rejig the road infrastructure in the country which is key catalyst for the actualization of the needed economic growth and development of our nation.

This was contained in a press release signed and issued to Newsmen by Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Hon. Minister of Works. 

The release revealed that Engr David Umahi made the statement in Markurdi, Benue State on Thursday, January 25, 2024, during his inspection visit to Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road reconstruction project via Mararaba, New karu, Asokoro, Ado, Goran road, Lafia by-pass and the dualization of the Markurdi-Otukpo- 9th Mile Enugu road projects. 

Engr Umahi thanked President Tinubu for approving the release of funds for the commencement  of work on critical highways across the six goe-political zones, including the Abuja - Kaduna - Zaria - Kano highway, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the two by-pass roads at the 2nd Niger Bridge.

”Let me use this opportunity to thank Mr. President. Just about three days ago, he graciously approved that work should commence immediately in many sections of Abuja- Kaduna- Zaria- Kano road, which is a very good and cheery news for me. We were having some issues with funding, but Mr. President has solved those problems and directed the immediate release of funds so that the projects will continue. The same thing is applicable to the Lagos, Ibadan and the 2nd Niger Bridge two bypasses. Mr. President directed the immediate release of money for the projects; I am now as excited as a newborn baby.”

Speaking during the inspection trip to the Markurdi axis of the road, the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, sought for the support of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He described the President's national development plan as purposeful and progressive, with the propensity of promoting sustainable and stable national development. He appreciated the new spirit of dedication and quality service delivery in the Federal Ministry of Works and expressed hope that  Nigeria would experience a new dawn in road infrastructure development under the Renewed Hope administration.

”We are quite pleased that you are beginning the second phase of Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-9th Mile Enugu road. I'm very excited to hear that you have already incorporated the pleas we presented to you"

"We thank Mr. President for his thoughtfulness and good heart, for the common masses. He is someone who doesn't like to see people suffer. He spends sleepless nights to ensure that we get it right in this administration; we remain quite indebted to him.”

During the visit, the Honourable Minister Works embarked on self assessment mission, driving on a distance of about 446 Km from Abuja to Enugu through the bad spots of Otukpo-Nsukka-Uboloafor Enugu road which afforded him the opportunity to give policy direction to engineers and contractors on site on the new initiatives of scoping  and construction on the dimensions of Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI). He  identified areas within the major junctions of the road project that require flyovers, especially the axis after Abacha Barracks in Abuja  and the Markurdi axis of the road project, where road users  experience  heavy  traffic. END