The attention of the Minister of Works Sen. Engr. David Umahi has been drawn to a publication by the Punch newspapers of Wednesday 20th November, 2024 where a report on the findings of the Auditor- General on the activities of the Ministry under the previous leadership of Raji Fasola had the name and picture of the current Minister attached.
The Minister responded to the misleading piece through his Special Assistant on Media, Barrister. Hon. Uchenna Orji
“Our attention has been drawn to a piece of petty and self-serving propaganda contained in the trending publication made by Punch Newspapers of 20th November 2024 and the unwarranted and insensible sensations sought to be achieved by the makers of the publication,”, Orji stated.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the publication, which is sponsored and circulated in different social media platforms, is nothing but an intentional, fraudulent, and mischievous misrepresentation of the inviolable report of the Auditor- General of the Federation, which was said to have investigated the financial management of the then Federal Ministry of Works and Housing between the period of 2020 and 2021 financial year and indicted the Housing Sector of the Ministry, of financial mismanagement and unauthorized expenditure totalling N4.64 billon.
“While we know the intention of these detractors, we are surprised that they could be so petty as to brazenly and unconscionably put the picture and the name of the serving Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON on the caption of their publication to create an impression to the gullible and unsuspecting readers that the person referred to was the serving Honourable Minister of Works.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the investigation was said to have been made on the financial management of the Ministry under the previous administration and not under the Renewed Hope administration.
“Indeed, we are surprised at the desperation of the sponsors of the publication and their paid jobbers whose intention is to distract the Honourable Minister or sully his hard earned reputation for insisting on best practices and value for money in the works sector. The activities of these desperate detractors are well known, but let them be assured that there is no going back in the determination of the Honourable Minister of Works in rejigging the works sector and free it from the whims and caprices of cartels who have for years held back the wheel of progress of the Ministry in giving Nigeria a cost effective and enduring road infrastructure.
“The track records and antecedents of the Honourable Minister of Works are in public domain. He can not be blackmailed by the antics of those who want the old order in the works sector to continue. He is focused and battle ready against the giant inhibitors of progress in the works sector.
“Members of the public are requested to disregard the false impression created in the punch newspaper publication of 20th November 2024 as it is sponsored to undermine public perception on the modest efforts of the Federal Ministry of Works under the Renewed Hope administration
Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works.