WORKS MINISTER DEBUNKS CLAIM OF FRAUDULENT PAYMENT OF FUNDS TO A MICTOFINANCE BANK, SAYS IT IS A DISTRACTION * To work with Governors to certify job completion before payment to contractors The Honourable Minister of Works Sen. Engr. Nweke David Umahi, CON, has debunked the claim that funds for construction of roads was fraudulently paid into a Microfinance Bank contrary to extant regulations. According to the Honourable Minister, “Let me also use the opportunity to debunk something that is ongoing in the social media. I don't know what they call the group, Is it Tracta Budgit or something which claims they're monitoring the budget of federal government; said that we paid 8.7 billion to the microfinance bank. Speaking to some journalists today in Rivers State during the inspection of  the Enugu-Port Harcourt  dual carriageway being reconstructed  by Arab Contractors  Ltd, Sen. Umahi disclosed that the organisation “went ahead and said, that the 8.7 billion were paid against a number of projects in Ekiti State, in Kaduna State, Kastina State and Borno State between June and September, 2023. The Honourable Minister while debunking further the erroneous claim by Tracka Budgit stated that as at June 2023, “he was in the Senate. So, if they are correct, it means the contracts would have been awarded while I was still a Governor, so not a minister.” Concerning the payments to a Microfinance bank, the Minister explained that as at July, “I was in the Senate Up to the 20th of August”.  He, however explained concerning the payments to a Microfinance Bank that “when a contractor has done his or her work, the money becomes his money. He can say pay it to any bank of his choice." Sen. David Umahi described as very mischievous the claim by the organisation stating that they should have investigated “whether the job was done, that is the only right they have. But they don't have the right to say where a contractor will say his money will be paid.  He submitted therefore that “whether it's paid in microfinance bank or macrofinance bank, what is paramount to establish if the funds were rightly paid for good work done.” The Honourable Minister averred that it was an attempt to distract his commitment to delivering on the Renewd Hope Agenda of President Tinubu for the road sector development in Nigeria. “And so, it's just a distraction. And then, some of the bank contractors are using them to fight back. But I refuse to be distracted, he restated. On his efforts to ensure quality delivery of road projects through partnership with the States, Sen. Umahi said “let me also say that in all the states, it's our policy that the state governors, through their appointed officials, must mark off any project, especially the emergency, palliative projects.  According to him “when a contractor has completed a job, no matter how big it is, my advice is for the state governor to come to the site and look at it and then mark off the job before he gets to office for payment.  He strongly affirmed that “Where this procedure is not done, I will not sign any generated certificate”.   ...

PRESIDENT TINUBU'S ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE REVOLUTION  ON COURSE, DIRECTS  RELEASE  OF FUND TO TACKLE  CRITICAL  ROADS IN ALL THE  GEO-POLITICAL ZONES OF THE FEDERATION The Hon. Minister of Works has reassured  Nigerians  that the Renewed Hope administration  of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is on course  in it's  determination  to rejig the road infrastructure  which  is a key catalyst  for  the actualization  of the needed economic growth and development of  our nation. The Hon Minister  gave this indication in Markurdi, Benue State on 25th  January 2024 during  his inspection  visit  to the Keffi- Akwanga- Lafia-Makurdi road reconstruction  project via Maraba, New karu, Asokoro, Ado, Goran road,  the  Lafia By-pass and the dualization of the Markurdi- Otukpo - 9th Mile Enugu road projects.  He thanked  the President of Nigeria  for approving  the release  of funds  for the commencement  of work on the critical highways across  the six goe-political  zones, including  the Abuja- Kaduna- Zaria - Kano highway,  the Lagos- Ibadan expressway and the two by-pass roads at the 2nd Niger Bridge. ”So let me use this opportunity to also thank Mr. President. Just about three days ago, he approved that work should immediately commence in many sections; in Abuja,- Kaduna,-Zaria- Kano road. It's a very good and cheering news for me. We were having some problems with funding. But Mr. President has solved that problem and  directed the immediate release of funds so that the projects will continue. The same thing is  applicable to the Lagos Ibadan and the 2nd Niger Bridge two bypasses. Mr. President has directed the immediate release of money for the projects. As you see me, I am rejoicing like a newborn baby.” Speaking during  the  inspection  visit  to the Markurdi  axis of the road, the Governor of  Benue  State, His Excellency, Fr. Hyacinth Alia called for support  to the administration  of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.He described the President's  national  development plan as purposeful and progressive and with the propensity  of  promoting  sustainable  and stable national  development. He  praised  the  new spirit of dedication  and  quality  service  delivery in the  Federal Ministry  of Works and expressed  hope that  Nigeria  would experience  a new dawn in  road infrastructure development  under the Renewed Hope administration. ”We are quite pleased that you are beginning the second phase of Abuja- Keffi - Lafia 9th  Mile Enugu road. I'm very excited to hear that you have already incorporated the prayers we presented to you" "We thank Mr. President for his thoughtfulness and good heart for the common masses. He's someone who doesn't like to see people suffer. He spends sleepless nights to ensure that we get it right at this administration.  We remain quite indebted to him.” The Honourable Minister  of Works undertook  a driving  distance  of about 446 Km from Abuja to Enugu  through  the bad spots of Otukpo- Nsukka- Uboloafor Enugu  road and that  afforded him the opportunity  to give policy  direction to the Engineers and contractors on site on the new initiatives on scopping  and construction and on the dimensions  of Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI). He also identified  areas  within the major junctions  of the  road project that require flyovers, especially  the axis after  Abacha Barracks in Abuja  and the Markurdi  axis of the  road project, where  road users  experience  heavy  traffic. ...

WORKS MINISTER, SEN UMAHI HARPS ON PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN BRIDGING THE GAP ON FINANCING OF NIGERIA'S ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE, MEETS GOVERNOR KEFAS OF TARABA STATE, ALHAJI ALIKO DANGOTE AND HON. NDUDI GODWIN ELUMELU In keeping with the road infrastructure initiatives of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has been engaging with concessionaires and other private sector organizations on the need for private sector investment on our road infrastructure as done in advanced economies of the world. This informed the closed door meeting the Hon. Minister of Works had with the Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, the founder and CEO of Dangote Group of Conglomerates, Alhaji Aliko Dangote GCON, and Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, former Minority Leader, Federal House of Representatives. It would be recalled that the Hon. Minister of Works in his zeal to change the ugly narrative of road infrastructure in Nigeria had set up three committees to work on the contracts executed by some concessionaires with the Federal Ministry of Works with a view to reviewing the scope and cost implications of the projects they undertook to execute under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI). This private sector initiative will fastrack road infrastructure revolution and bring order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of Federal Highways. The Governor of Taraba who retired as a military professional was a one-time chairman Governing Board of Directors Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) before he became Governor. The founder and CEO Dangote Group is one of Africa's foremost captains of industry who have made ambitious investments in the development of infrastructure in Nigeria and he has shown manifest commitment in the transformation of Nigeria's infrastructure through long- term investment in strategic sectors of Nigeria's economy, including financial services, and infrastructure development.  Hon Ndudi G. Elumelu is a well-travelled politician and contemporary public administrator, and also a product of Harvard Business School, Boston. It is hoped that investors, local and international, and other organized bodies would take advantage of the will power of the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope administration and the private sector experience and professional capacities of the Hon. Minister of Works to invest in the over 35,000 Km of the national road network being managed by Federal Government of Nigeria as this road network carries more than 70% of the vehicular traffic, making it a critical infrastructure for the movement of goods and services across the nation. This initiative will trigger economic development, job creation, local content development and wealth creation for Nigerian population. Mr. President mean business with his efforts to prosper our country and make it the pride of the African continent. Your support is critical.   ...