The minister of Works & Housing, Senator David Umahi has harshly condemned the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, saying he does need to be a presidential aspirant to educate the ex-governor of Anambra State on any issues of interest to the State or the country relating to infrastructure and governance.
While taking stock of the on-going Federal Government road projects, Umahi rejected suggestions expressed recently by Obi that the Government’s spending on infrastructure was not evident in the country, saying tangible achievements were being recorded on the back of the Federal spend.
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The minister believes the post-factual approach which he had expressed regarding discussions on national development is being followed correctly and that, in spite of the prevailing economic situation, the current administration has worked very quickly on certain key highroads, bridges and key national transport corridors.
“Don’t ask me to be a presidential candidate to teach you,” Umahi said, to insist that he already has hands-on experience in the governance of a public sector utility as a former governor due to his current role as Minister of Works and his experience in building and executing infrastructure plans.
The President Bola Tinubu administration’s infrastructure initiative, which is among the most ambitious in Nigeria’s history, is quite massive, says Umahi.
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He cited on-going projects such as parts of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, major rehabilitation of bridges and road reconstructive works being carried out in the six geopolitical zones of the country as a testament to the government’s effort at improving connectivity and promoting economic growth in Nigeria.
The Minister proceeded that infrastructure continues to be a long-term investment that could provide the foundations for industrial development, cut transportation expenses and augment national competitiveness.
The criticisms of the current projects should take into account their strategic value, and also the cost of building and financing national infrastructure, which is not a simple task.
The eve of general elections in 2027 has generated talks which are ever more skirmishing between Government leaders and opponents about the direction of the nation’s economy, public finances and development priorities.
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Obtaining fiscal discipline, transparency and investment in key social areas like education, health and other critical social services has been a recurring demand, while the Federal Government has argued for a huge investment in infrastructure works for continued economic transformation.
