Minister of Works Dave Umahi has defended his role amid growing calls for his resignation, following public scrutiny over the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s roads. Speaking during the federal government’s formal takeover of the temporary rehabilitation of the Benin-Asaba Highway in Benin City, Umahi expressed confusion over the controversy surrounding his position. He emphasized that the road’s concession, executed under the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, was a contractual obligation that his ministry now seeks to address for the public good.
Umahi, who opposed the road’s concession during his tenure as minister, explained that the project was initiated by the Buhari administration through a public-private partnership (PPP) framework. He criticized the concessionaire’s lack of technical and financial capacity, noting that the contractor had removed stable asphalt pavement in violation of contractual terms. The federal government’s intervention, he stated, was a necessary step to mitigate the road’s worsening condition, which has exacerbated traffic congestion and economic disruptions in the region.
The minister also addressed political tensions surrounding the 2027 general election, dismissing claims that the Igbo ethnic group’s turn to produce a president had arrived. Responding to remarks by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who reportedly called Umahi “not his match,” Umahi argued that the South-East’s political opportunity would come in due time. “It’s not the turn of the Igbos yet,” he said, asserting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had delivered tangible benefits to the South-East and South-South regions. Umahi urged supporters to defend the president’s record, stating, “He deserves continuity, he deserves support.”
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo echoed similar sentiments, accusing political opponents of attempting to undermine Tinubu’s re-election prospects. Okpebholo alleged that figures who previously opposed former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 were now targeting Tinubu, citing their alleged resistance to policies like the Almajiri education initiative. “You don’t change a working president,” he said, adding that critics were “wasting their money” by contesting an administration with no vacancy in Aso Rock. Okpebholo warned that only technocrats, not “supermarket people,” should seek the presidency when the time came.
The Benin-Asaba Highway rehabilitation project has drawn attention as a symbol of the federal government’s infrastructure priorities. Umahi highlighted that the ministry’s intervention was a “palliative” measure to address immediate public concerns, though he acknowledged the need for long-term solutions. The road’s poor condition, exacerbated by the concessionaire’s mismanagement, has sparked debates over accountability and the effectiveness of PPP models in Nigeria’s public works sector.
Public interest implications of the controversy extend beyond infrastructure, reflecting broader political dynamics ahead of the 2027 elections. Umahi’s comments underscore the challenges of balancing administrative responsibilities with political narratives, while Okpebholo’s remarks highlight the contentious nature of opposition strategies. Both leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining stability, with Umahi citing divine timing for the South-East’s political aspirations and Okpebholo warning against destabilizing a sitting administration.
As the federal government moves forward with the Benin-Asaba rehabilitation, the discourse around governance, ethnic representation, and electoral politics remains central to Nigeria’s political landscape. Umahi’s defense of his role and the broader administration’s achievements signals a strategic focus on continuity, even as critics continue to challenge its policies and priorities.