he Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, has commended the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Amed Tinubu for appointing Senator Engineer Dave Umahi as Minister of Works.
.”I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him (Umahi) as the Honourable of Works, the Senator said.
He was awed by the new drive and policy direction of President Tinubu’s administration on roads construction across the country being implemented by the Minister particularly as it concerns the inherited road projects in his home state, Niger State.
The Senator was particularly impressed about the Minister’s insistence on speed, quality and value- for- money in project delivery and readiness to also wield the big stick on defaulting contractors, where necessary.
“I commend the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engineer David Umahi, for his dedication to duty and exemplary leadership in steering the ship of the Federal Ministry of Works to deliver on the National Road Master Plan of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR”, Senator Musa stated.
According to him, “The Honourable Minister demonstrated this when he convened a stakeholder meeting in his office in Abuja to discuss the issues militating against the timely completion of the 10 on-going federal road projects in different parts of Niger State.
“I had the privilege of leading members of the National Assembly from Niger State as part of the team of the Farmer Governor of Niger State, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago and I was highly impressed with the presentation made by the Farmer Governor where he recounted the status of each of the road projects across the state by their names, where he called on the Minister to revoke the contract of Minna – Suleja Road project that was first awarded in 2010.
He added that he was also impressed with the Minister’s proactive and decisive steps in addressing all the issues raised at the meeting, including invoking the relevant sections of the Law to revoke some of the non-performing contracts and in reprimanding some erring contractors and members of staff of the Ministry who were compromising their positions in the management of the road contract processes.
” It is quite amazing that he was ready to wield the big stick to deal with anyone trying to sabotage the Renewed Hope Agenda in the Federal Ministry of Works, warning that “anyone found wanting will face the consequences and report to EFCC where necessary”
“That is the hallmark of commitment and dedication to duty, which marks Engineer David Umahi as a round peg in a round hole
“The good people of Niger State are delighted to note that the Minister has directed the revocation, redesigning and re-awarding of the Dualization of Suleja-Lambatta-Minna (Phase 1 & 2) and has given marching order to the contractor handling the Reconstruction of Bida – Lapai – Lambatta road to return to site and to start work from the Bida – Lapai axis as requested by Governor Bago as he also assured that he would source for more funds for the Rehabilitation of Mokwa – Makera – Tegina road project in 2025 budget.
I must equally commend the profound sense of responsibility and commitment of the workaholic Farmer Governor of Niger State, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Umar Bago who would not fold his arms while federal road projects in the State continued to suffer neglect and substandard work at the detriment of the people of Niger State.
” I call on all Governors to emulate Governor Bago by engaging with federal contractors in their States to get value for money and support Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a better Nigeria.