Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has described the allegations of northern marginalisation on road projects under President Bola Tinubu-led administration as false, misleading and self-serving.
Kwankwaso had claimed that President Tinubu was developing more roads in the South part of the country than in the Northern region.
In a statement on Saturday, Umahi said, “I consider this statement to be a grave misleading information made intentionally to deceive our brothers and sisters in the North and to pretend that he loves the North more than any other leader from the North.”
He listed the four legacy projects of President Tinubu to include the Lagos -Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Trans Sahara road spanning through Cross River – Ebonyi – Benue – Kogi – Nasarawa – Abuja and the Akwanga – Jos – Bauchi – Gombe road which cuts across all geopolitical zones of the country.
Umahi explained that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is 750 km, “As of today, a total of 110 km is ongoing within Lagos State and 65 km within Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. The total ongoing is 175 km by 6 lanes or 350 km by 3 lanes in the South”.
According to the Minister, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, which is 1,068km has 258 km ongoing implementation at the Kebbi section and 120 km ongoing at the Sokoto section. “The total ongoing is 378 km by 6 lanes or 756 km by 3 lanes in the North”.
He said the Trans Sahara road spanning through Cross River – Ebonyi – Benue – Kogi – Nasarawa – Abuja is 465km with 118 km by 3 lanes or 59 km by 6 lanes specification and ongoing in Ebonyi State.
Umahi added that the Akwanga – Jos – Bauchi – Gombe road, which is 439km road project is being redesigned from flexible pavement to rigid pavement for more durability, as directed by the President, and in conformity with the other legacy projects.
“Out of the total length of these projects, the North has 52% and the South 48%. And within the ongoing projects, as of today, the South has 409 km by 3 lanes and the North has 756km by 3 lanes.
“The facts are there. I wonder why people don’t talk about other legacy projects of Mr. President but will always dwell on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This road has only 220 km by 3 lanes in Lagos State which is ongoing now, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have 130km by 3 ongoing lanes, whereas Kebbi state, alone, has 316 km by 3 lanes that is ongoing.
Sokoto State has 240km with 3 lanes that is ongoing. I think Senator Kwankwaso is not fair to Mr. President and the unity of our country,” the Works minister said.
He further outlined the following as other major projects being executed in the Northern part of the country – Sokoto – Gusau – Funtua – Zaria road in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
This is 275 km dualised (750 km) road, costing about ₦824 billion. This project is being handled by CBC, Triacta, Setraco, and Mothercat.
Umahi said works were ongoing on other projects mostly on reinforced concrete pavement despite the insecurity within this corridor.
He also listed the Abuja – Kaduna – Kano road, a350 km dualized (700km) project being constructed on concrete pavement with a total sum of ₦764 billion by Infiouest (Nig.) Ltd. with 30% of the contract sum already paid and work is ongoing.
BUA Tax Credit road passing through Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano States: 256 km dualized (512 km) which was redesigned and constructed on rigid pavement was ongoing.
He added that 156 km of Zaria – Hunkuyi road is being constructed by Mothercat (Nig,) Ltd while the 49 km Kano Northern Bypass is being constructed by CCECC.
The 100.9 km dualised (201.8 km) Kano – Jigawa states’ section of the Kano – Maiduguri Road is being constructed by Triacta (Nig.) Limited; Bama and Dikwa roads, A 49+51=100 km by Dangote Tax Credit ongoing in Borno State.
Also, Section V of the Kano – Maiduguri Dualisation, Damaturu – Maiduguri in Borno and Yobe states, a 110 km by 2 lanes is being constructed by CCECC (Nig.) Ltd. as the 76 km Malando Road in Kebbi State is being constructed by Episolyn (Nig.) Ltd.
The minister also disclosed that the 250 km dualised 500 km Benue to 9th Mile road, costing $958 million by China Harbour is ongoing and together with the dualisation of Lokoja – Okene 86km dualised (172km) by CGC.
In the same vein, Sections 1 and 2 of the Kaduna to Katsina roads by CCECC costing about ₦150 billion are ongoing.
In the South, Umahi listed major ongoing projects as completion of Lagos – Ibadan 8.5 km costing ₦33 billion by RCC.
Others include the completion of Lagos to Sagamu 12 km dualised (24 km) and flyovers by CBC.
Also, are the completion of Oyo – Ogbomoso – Ilorin Road costing ₦146 billion by JRB; repairs of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges with a total contract sum of about ₦120 billion.
In the South East the federal government is undertaking the completion of Enugu – Onitsha road by MTN tax credit which is 107 km at ₦202 billion; completion of Enugu – Onitsha road by CBC, a 72 km at ₦150 billion; the 36-km Enugu – Abakaliki Road with reinforced concrete by Global Resources (Nig.) Limited as well as 2nd Niger Bridge access road in Anambra State, 17.5 km (dualised) with many bridges and flyovers at ₦175Billion by CGC.
The federal government is also undertaking the completion of dualised 61km Lokpanta in Imo state to Enugu State by CGC, costing 100bn.
In the South-South, the completion of Eleme-Onne road project, which is 30 km with bridges and flyovers, costing ₦156 billion is ongoing alongside the construction of Eket Bypass, which is 9.7 km, dualised, costing ₦76 billion.
Also is the completion of East West Road, Section 2 at ₦186 Billion by Setraco; Nembe – Brass road costing ₦150 billion; completion of the Dualisation of Lokoja – Benin road by four contractors costing about ₦167 billion; 2nd Niger Bridge access road in Delta State, a 17 km, dualised by CCECC at ₦146 billion.
Others include the completion of Bodo Bonny Road in Rivers state, a 35 km with 12 bridges by Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc, costing 200 billion”.
While pledging to publish all inherited and new projects that are either completed or ongoing under the Renewed Hope Administration, Umahi said President Tinubu is fair in distribution of development projects.
“He has favoured the North in road development more than the South, especially the North-West, where Sen. Kwankwaso comes from.
“Apart from the four legacy projects, 80% of the above-named ongoing projects were projects awarded by the past administration towards the end of that administration in 2023 but never took off effectively, which President Tinubu decided to continue to fund towards completion. If he had abandoned them, the same people would complain.
“I have been under pressure from some stakeholders for the construction of their major roads like the abandoned Ibadan – Oyo by Arab Contractors; Ibadan – Ile Ife – Ilesa, Ilesa – Akure – Benin, and Ore – Sagamu roads. I have been badly accused that I am only doing projects in the North, especially the North West.
He described as unfortunate the utterances of some of political leaders to deceive Nigerians to gain political favour instead of making statements that will unite the country and move it forward.
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