Umahi Asks ICPC, EFCC To Verify Completed Road Projects

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, said the Ministry has submitted list of all ongoing and completed federal road projects to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for verification.

The Minister disclosed this on Thursday while inspecting the Mararraba-Keffi Road project in Nasarawa State.

He attributed the gesture to “unprecedented transparency” under President Bola Tinubu.
He said he personally wrote to the anti-corruption agencies, forwarding a comprehensive list of all projects executed by the ministry since President Tinubu assumed office.

The anti-graft agency, according to him, has been asked to physically verify the projects across all states of the federation and the FCT.

“I love challenges. Let me tell the public that I wrote to ICPC and we gave them all the projects of the President in Ministry of Works from the very day he assumed office.

“We asked them to go through all the states of the federation and Abuja to verify these projects and take a decision. This is the first of its kind.

“Yesterday in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), I reported it to the president publicly and I am very happy doing this.”

Umahi said he has also sent the same list to EFCC, although he was not sure if they had deployed their operatives to all the states.

“We are very transparent in what we are doing under President Bola Tinubu. I am enjoying my work because I love hard work. I love quality work.

“I love when the people are happy, and God gave me a boss like no other boss. I enjoy working with the president.”

The Minister also praised President Tinubu for his swift response to what he described as an “unfortunate incident” on a road in Nasarawa State.

According to Umahi, the state governor contacted him immediately after the incident, prompting him to brief the President within 24 hours and he approved funds for the relevant project.

Umahi, while addressing concerns about outstanding payments to local contractors, confirmed that the President has set up a committee to review all debts owed by the Works Ministry.

He appealed to contractors to halt protests, assuring them of imminent payment.

“Let me assure our contractors that the President recognised that you are being owed.

“He set up a committee to review all the debts. Please, no more protest. You will be paid before December 20, you will be paid,” Umahi stated.

Umahi specifically mentioned China Harbour and two contractors handling the Keffi–Mararaba corridor, acknowledging that they were yet to receive payment but assured them that funds have been approved.

The minister commended CGC for what he described as excellent work, noting that President Tinubu had already released 100 per cent of their due funds.

He also hailed JRB for performing excellently well in delivering quality road project, noting that they performed better than some international companies.

Also speaking, Dr Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Community Engagement for the North-Central region, reaffirmed the President’s commitment to road infrastructure.

Essiet said that CCTV would be installed along Keffi-Mararaba road to boost security because of the upcoming Christmas season to ensure that people travel safely.

She commended the President for putting the minister in charge of the Works Ministry, adding that Umahi and the Ministry’s staff were committed to delivering the mandate of the President.