The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has declared that he will step down from office if the ongoing Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road project is proven to be substandard, stating that he is prepared for the work to undergo independent technical assessment.
Umahi made the statement on Wednesday while presenting his ministry’s budget before a joint session of the National Assembly.
The session turned tense after lawmakers questioned the decision to award a portion of the road project to a company some legislators described as unfamiliar and previously linked to generator sales.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) asked why the contract had been withdrawn from a well-known construction firm and reassigned to another company whose standing in road construction was not widely recognised. The former Edo State governor expressed concern about the contractor’s credibility in handling a project of such magnitude.
In his response, Umahi brushed aside the criticisms, arguing that the primary concern should be the standard of work delivered rather than the company’s past profile.
“I’m just hearing about Maikano for the first time. Whether they are selling goats or cows, they are doing well. I am satisfied with the quality of work on the Abuja–Kaduna stretch, and I challenge you to an inspection. Bring the best of your concrete testers. If you test it and it fails, I will throw in the towel,” the minister said.
He maintained that the debate should not centre on whether asphalt or concrete was used for the road but rather on whether adequate supervision was in place to guarantee durability. According to him, many asphalt failures result from weak oversight, not necessarily from the material itself.
Earlier in his presentation, Umahi criticised the funding arrangement for capital projects, describing the cash plan operated by the Federal Ministry of Finance as counterproductive to the success of his ministry’s operations.
While defending the ministry’s N3.4 trillion budget proposal, he argued that the current disbursement system is slowing down project execution. He explained that more than 95 per cent of projects under the Ministry of Works are ongoing, making steady and sufficient capital releases essential for timely completion.
The session, however, was not without friction. Tensions rose when Umahi asked a lawmaker to pause briefly so he could better understand the question being posed. Some legislators interpreted the remark as inappropriate, prompting Oshiomhole to caution the minister regarding his tone.
Although calm was restored, another heated exchange followed when Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North Central) objected after the committee chairman attempted to curtail his comments.
The disagreement between the principal officer and the committee chairman intensified, and an attempt by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) to mediate the dispute instead heightened the tension.
Despite the dramatic exchanges, deliberations continued as lawmakers scrutinised both the quality of ongoing infrastructure projects and the ministry’s funding challenges.
What you should know
Minister of Works David Umahi has pledged to resign if independent testing finds the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road project substandard.
Lawmakers questioned the credibility of a contractor handling part of the project, while Umahi defended the quality of work and challenged critics to conduct concrete tests. He also criticised the federal funding structure, saying irregular capital releases are slowing project execution.
The budget defence session was marked by heated exchanges, reflecting heightened scrutiny of major infrastructure projects.
