By Our Correspondent

Ireked by the claims of former governor of kano, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso that the Northern part of the country is marginalised on road infrastructural development,
Minister of Works , Engr. David Umahi has debunked the claims as false saying that Kwankwaso was not telling Nigerians the truth.

He described the claim attributed to him, as misleading, false and self serving, maintaining that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s road infrastructure development was not limited to the South but cut across all the regions of the country.

The minister who reacted to Kwankwaso claim in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday outlined the road contract awards by the Ministry since the inception of the present administration and stated that, the North rather than been marginalized got the lion share of all projects awarded in the country.

Umahi further said the former Governor was spreading misleading information intentionally to deceive the people in the North and to pretend that he loves the North more than any other leader from the North.

The minister stated that he personally considered the statement as one made out of desperation and as part of his struggle, along with a few others who believe that they can inherit late President Muhammadu Buhari’s impeccable legacy.

He then vowed to publish all inherited projects and new projects that are either completed or ongoing under the Renewed Hope Administration in the coming week, saying, “I can say with all sense of responsibility that President Tinubu, GCFR is a fair President. He has favoured the North in road development more than the South, especially the North West, where Sen. Kwankwaso comes from.”

The statement reads: “My attention as the Honourable Minister of Works has been drawn to the unfortunate statement by His Excellency, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is developing more roads in the South than in the North.

“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.

“I consider the statement as one made out of desperation and as part of his struggle, along with a few others who believe that they can inherit the impeccable legacy of our dear late President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and that the only way available for them towards achieving the same is to be divisive and pretentious.

“Trying to be like our late President Buhari cannot be a job of three decades and cannot be done with deceit. I think our younger generation has such a chance and it must be worked for through hard work, honesty, transparency, and commitment to the unity of our country, a legacy that our late President Buhari, GCFR achieved in all his life on earth. May God continue to bless his legacies and give him a peaceful rest, Amen

“For the interest of all Nigerians, especially our dear brothers and sisters in the North, I wish to highlight just a few key ongoing projects in each of the six Geo-Political Zones.

“The four (4) Legacy Road Projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR: 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.

“The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, which is 1068km: As of today, we have 258 km ongoing 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.

“Trans Sahara road spanning through Cross River – Ebonyi – Benue – Kogi – Nasarawa – Abuja, which is 465km: 118 km by 3 lanes or 59 km by 6 lanes is ongoing in Ebonyi State – South.

“Akwanga – Jos-Bauchi – Gombe road, which is 439km: Project is being redesigned from flexible pavement to rigid pavement for more durability, as directed by Mr. 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%.”

The Minister added that, “And within the ongoing projects, as of today, the South has 409 km by 3lanes 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 240 km with 3 lanes that is ongoing. I think Sen. Kwankwaso is not fair to Mr.President and the unity of our country.”

He said, “The following major projects are also ongoing in the North.
a) Sokoto – Gusau – Funtua – Zaria road in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna states: This is 275 km dualised (750 km), costing about ₦824 billion. This project is being handled by CBC, Triacta, Setraco, and Mothercat.

“Projects are ongoing mostly on reinforced concrete pavement. Despite the insecurity within this corridor, work is ongoing.

“Abuja – Kaduna – Kano road: 350 km dualized (700km) project is 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). The project was redesigned and constructed on rigid pavement.

“156 km of Zaria – Hunkuyi road is being constructed by Mothercat (Nig,) Ltd.

“The Kano Northern Bypass: 49 km 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.

“The Bama and Dikwa roads (49+51=100 km) by Dangote Tax Credit are ongoing in Borno State.

“Section V of the Kano – Maiduguri Dualisation, Damaturu – Maiduguri in Borno and Yobe states: 110 km by 2 lanes is being constructed by CCECC (Nig.) Ltd.

“The 76 km Malando road in Kebbi State is being constructed by Episolyn (Nig.) Ltd.

“The 250 km dualised (500 km) Benue to 9th Mile road costing $958 million by China Harbour is ongoing.

“The Dualisation of Lokoja – Okene 86km dualised (172km) by CGC is ongoing.
l) Sections 1 and 2 of the Kaduna to Katsina roads by CCECC costing about ₦150 billion are ongoing.

According to him, “Major ongoing projects in the South: “Completion of Lagos – Ibadan 8.5 km costing ₦33 Billion by RCC.

“Completion of Lagos to Sagamu 12 km dualised (24 km) and flyovers by CBC.

“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, we have: “Completion of Enugu – Onitsha road by MTN tax credit which is 107 km costing ₦202 billion.

“Completion of Enugu – Onitsha road by CBC, which is 72 km and costing ₦150 billion.

“36-km Enugu – Abakaliki road with reinforced concrete by Global Resources (Nig.) Limited.

“2nd Niger Bridge access road in Anambra State, 17.5 km (dualised) with many bridges and flyovers – ₦175Billion by CGC.

“Completion of 61km (dualised) of the Lokpanta in Imo state to Enugu state by CGC, costing 100bn.

In the South – South:
“Completion of Eleme-Onne road project, which is 30 km with bridges and flyovers, costing ₦156 billion.

“Construction of Eket Bypass, which is 9.7 km, dualised, costing ₦76 billion.

“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, which is 17 km, dualised by CCECC, costing ₦146 billion.

“Completion of Bodo Bonny Road in Rivers state: 35 km with 12 bridges by Julius Berger (Nig.) PLC, costing 200 billion.”

Umahi further stated that, “I have a duty in the coming week to publish all inherited projects and new projects that are either completed or ongoing under the Renewed Hope Administration. I can say with all sense of responsibility that President Tinubu, GCFR is a fair President.

“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.

“The Third Mainland Bridge is being closed down to heavy trucks because of underwater structural defects. The Carter Bridge is so deformed that it needs to be demolished and reconstructed. These are the real major projects in the South West, which I have been appealing to Mr President to give me money to do because the people of the South West may think that I am doing nothing about the major projects in their zone.

“These projects are within a major economic corridor between the South and the North that deserve attention. Moreover, these bridges, if allowed to further deteriorate, will lead to serious economic consequences for the nation. Mr President is not only fair in the completion of major inherited/new projects but they are all within the major economic corridors of our nation.

“I will publish all ongoing projects, which are above 20 billion naira each next week. We still have many projects within the six geopolitical zones that are not listed here. In this circumstance, I don’t know where Sen Kwankwaso got his misinformation.

“It is unfortunate that the utterances of some of our political leaders are just intended to deceive Nigerians and gain political favour instead of making statements that will unite the country and move it forward.

“I will offer more explanation on this topic and am ready to face a debate with anyone just to put the record straight.”

Umahi recalls that, “Let me state that out of the ongoing inherited NNPCL Tax Credit road and bridge projects, the North has 53%, while the South has 47% out of which the South East has only 4% and the South West has a mere 5%. The records are with NNPCL for verification.

“Mr. President did not complain about the unfair distribution of these inherited projects by the past administration but has continued to fund them, as inherited.”

“To my brother Senator Kwankwaso, you owe our dear President an apology and a duty to withdraw your statement using the information I have provided for the benefit of Nigerians and the unity of the nation.

“I request the good people of Nigeria to ignore Senator Kwakwans’s misleading statement and know that President Tinubu is evenly committed to developing every part of this country with fairness, equity, and the fear of God”, he noted.