Minister of Works, David Umahi, has strongly dismissed the recent comments made by former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who alleged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sidelining the Northern region in federal road infrastructure development. Umahi described the claim as entirely unfounded, misleading, and politically motivated, urging Nigerians to disregard it.
The Minister asserted that Kwankwaso’s statement lacked substance and factual basis. He called on the former Governor to retract his remarks and publicly apologise to President Tinubu, emphasizing that the comments were not only divisive but also served no purpose other than to mislead the public and stoke regional sentiments. According to Umahi, such statements are not only detrimental to national unity but also misrepresent the reality of ongoing federal road projects across the country.
In defending the President’s commitment to equitable development, Umahi laid out extensive details of infrastructure projects currently underway in different parts of the country, particularly in the North. He made it clear that President Tinubu’s administration has maintained a balanced approach in the execution of road projects, guided by the principles of equity, fairness, and the fear of God.
Highlighting the scope and distribution of projects, Umahi stated that among the four major legacy road projects initiated by the current administration, the North accounts for 52% of the total length, while the South has 48%. He revealed that 756km of road construction is ongoing in the North compared to 409km in the South. He pointed out that while the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway receives significant attention, little is said about the large-scale projects progressing in Northern states.
Citing specifics, Umahi mentioned that Kebbi State alone has 316km of roads under construction, and Sokoto has 240km ongoing. In comparison, Lagos has 220km currently being worked on. He further provided examples such as the 275km Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria dualised road, which forms part of a larger 750km corridor being executed by four contractors with a total budget of ₦824 billion. He also referenced the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road project, spanning 700km and valued at ₦764 billion.
Additional projects in the Northern region include the 256km BUA Tax Credit road that traverses Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano states; the 156km Zaria-Hunkuyi road; the 49km Kano Northern Bypass; and the 110km Kano-Maiduguri Section V. He also mentioned numerous roads being developed through the Dangote Tax Credit Scheme in Borno State, the 76km Malando road in Kebbi, the 250km Benue to 9th Mile road, and the dualisation of the 86km Lokoja-Okene route.
On developments in Southern Nigeria, the Minister pointed out completed and ongoing work such as the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin road, and major rehabilitation on the Third Mainland, Eko, and Carter bridges. He stated that in the South East, the Enugu-Onitsha road (107km) is being handled by MTN under the Tax Credit Scheme, while CBC is responsible for an additional 72km. Other ongoing works in the region include the Enugu-Abakaliki road, the Lokpanta-Enugu road, and access roads leading to the Second Niger Bridge.
In the South-South, Umahi mentioned projects like the Eleme-Onne road, Eket Bypass, the Nembe-Brass road, the Bodo-Bonny road handled by Julius Berger, and the East-West Road Section 2. According to him, the overall distribution of the NNPCL Tax Credit projects inherited by the Tinubu administration stands at 53% for the North and 47% for the South. The South East, he noted, gets just 4% and the South West 5%, yet the President continues to fund all projects without discrimination.
Umahi admitted that the South West has mounting requests for key road interventions, such as the Ibadan-Oyo, Ibadan-Ile Ife-Ilesa, and Ore-Sagamu roads, but cited funding limitations as a major constraint. He described the condition of some infrastructure in Lagos, such as the Carter Bridge, as alarming, warning that it may soon require demolition due to structural damage. The Third Mainland Bridge, he added, has already been closed to heavy trucks due to underwater defects.
The Minister expressed concern over politicians who, for the sake of gaining favour or relevance, continue to spread falsehoods that undermine national unity. He accused Kwankwaso of being part of a small group of political actors trying to emulate the legacy of the late President Muhammadu Buhari through divisive tactics. Umahi described such behaviour as pretentious and rooted in desperation, insisting that leadership requires integrity, hard work, and a genuine commitment to national unity.
He reaffirmed that President Tinubu’s administration remains focused on infrastructure development as a means of stimulating economic growth and fostering unity. Umahi concluded by inviting any stakeholders with opposing evidence to engage him in an open debate, expressing readiness to present verified data to support his claims.
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