8-Point Agenda Of President Tinubu Linked To Good Road – Umahi

The Minister of Work,  David Umahi, has said the availability of good road network was instrumental to the growth of the economy.

Umahi said achieving food security, ending poverty, improving security, enhancing economic growth and job creation could only be possible with quality infrastructural development across the country.

Naija News reports that Umahi stated this at the opening of a two-day retreat organized for Highways Engineers and management staff of the Ministry with the theme, ‘Ensuring Delivery of Mr. President’s Agenda on Road Infrastructural Development’ on 17th January 2025 in Abuja.

According to him, many infrastructural developments embarked upon by the present administration across the entire six (6) geo-political zones of the country were premised on stimulating the economy and improving the lives of the citizenry.

He said the present administration was committed to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of failing major highways across the zones, which would provide robust road infrastructure, as well as alleviate the sufferings of the citizens.

“The retreat is aimed at enhancing optimum service delivery, efficiency, and unity in the delivery of road projects, nationwide, is expected to help participants ensure that the government gets value for money expended on all projects,” he said.

Senator Umahi stressed that bad roads could be equated to “keeping people in prison, as it hinders their movement“.

He called on Highway engineers to imbibe internationally recommended engineering standards and practices, to achieve the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu; adding that contractors must mobilize to the site before requesting for mobilization fee.

The former governor of Ebonyi State all Federal Controllers of Works (FCW) to dismantle all speed breakers or bumps on Federal highways in their respective states.

While acknowledging the motives for the bumps, he said there should be approval and standard design and specifications guiding such endeavours.

NASS Tell Umahi to Put in More Works

Speaking at the retreat, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Mpigi Barinada, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, urged the Ministry to put in more effort, so that the roads work for the citizens.

They emphasized the need for the Ministry to engage the members of the National Assembly (NASS) to ascertain that the correct appropriation is made to accommodate all Nigerian roads.

Barinada and Alabi stated that the good works of the Ministry were an indication of support for Mr. President’s agenda.

Key Decisions Of the Retreat

Retreat participants were asked to reduce the use of emergency contracts; publish all contracts on the Ministry’s websites, including the names of the contractors, and value for money expended on every project; ensure that effective from 2025, categorization of contractors would start and no longer portfolio or envelop contractors.

To avoid unnecessary embarrassment, officers need to apply extant rules in discharging their duties. The year 2025, being a year for enhanced performance for Mr. President, priority projects would be tracked by the second quarter of 2026, which should be ready for commissioning.

Participants also were urged to ensure that Nigeria roads are motorable, especially that of Abuja – Kaduna, a vital artery linking the South to the North of the country.

Civil servants were urged to guide and support politicians in performing their jobs.