David Umahi, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, has responded sharply to criticism from Remi Oseni, Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
Oseni accused Umahi of failing to address Nigeria’s deteriorating road infrastructure, despite the resources allocated to his ministry.
During a recent interactive session, Oseni expressed frustration, claiming that Umahi’s inability to prioritize road repairs has been detrimental. “You are not here to tell us what we already know in the area of resources. Don’t let me take you up on that because you focused on less priority issues,” Oseni remarked, referencing a N300 billion supplementary budget approved the previous year.
In a press briefing in Abuja, Umahi defended his record, attributing the current challenges to financial constraints and price variations, which have impacted the budget. He refrained from escalating the issue, citing respect for the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.
READ ALSO: Contractors Shades Umahi, says the delay in payment reason for untold hardship
“I’ve never failed in any endeavor, and I won’t engage with Oseni out of respect for the Speaker and the National Assembly. I believe that God has been with me throughout my career, and I’m confident in my track record,” Umahi stated.
He also acknowledged the difficulty posed by the rising costs in construction, which has complicated ongoing road projects.
