Minister of Works Defends President Tinubu's Infrastructure Development Across Nigeria

Strategic Insights -

The Minister of Works and Housing, David Umahi, has disputed former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, claiming that President Bola Tinubu's administration is neglecting the North in infrastructure development. Umahi countered Kwankwaso's allegations by presenting data on major ongoing federal road projects across Nigeria, pointing out that the North accounts for 52% of Tinubu's legacy projects, while the South has 48%. He emphasized that despite limited funding, President Tinubu has continued to fund critical projects in the South, including the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin Road, and critical repairs on the Third Mainland, Eko, and Carter bridges.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Minister of Works and Housing, David Umahi, has disputed former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alleging that President Tinubu's administration is neglecting the North in infrastructure development.
  • Umahi stated that the North accounts for 52% of Tinubu's legacy projects, while the South has 48% of the total length of these projects.
  • Out of the 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, 175km is under construction, with the North accounting for 756km under construction and 409km in the South.
  • The Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria Road, a 275km dualized road part of a 750km corridor, is being handled by four contractors at N824 billion.
  • Other key Northern projects include the 700km Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road, valued at N764 billion, and the 256km BUA Tax Credit Road spanning Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano states.
  • The Minister highlighted Southern projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin Road, and critical repairs on the Third Mainland, Eko, and Carter bridges.
  • According to the Minister, the South East receives only 4% and the South West 5% of the inherited Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) Tax Credit projects, despite the North accounting for 53%.
  • The Minister announced that a comprehensive list of inherited and ongoing projects would be published shortly, with details of ongoing projects above N20 billion to be made available next week.

Statistics:

  • The North accounts for 52% of Tinubu's legacy projects, while the South has 48%.
  • The total length of Tinubu's legacy projects is not specified, but the North accounts for 756km under construction and 409km in the South.
  • The Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria Road is a 275km dualized road part of a 750km corridor being handled by four contractors at N824 billion.
  • The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road is a 700km road valued at N764 billion.
  • The BUA Tax Credit Road spans 256km across Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano states.
  • The South East receives only 4% of the inherited Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) Tax Credit projects.
  • The South West receives 5% of the inherited Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) Tax Credit projects.

Sources:

  • A strongly worded statement by the Minister of Works and Housing, David Umahi.
  • An interview with an unnamed official (Date not specified)