Sophia Michaels
Nigerian Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that the ministry is willing to speed up approval for state governors to carry out rehabilitation on federal roads in the states.
He stated this in response to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Recall that while speaking at the inauguration of Ven. Ebenezer Saiki, as the second Bishop of Akoko-Edo Diocese held at St. James Cathedral, Ugbogbo, Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Obaseki alleged that despite many requests by his administration, the Federal Government has refused to allow him to fix the dilapidated federal roads.
The governor called on residents and other road users to plead with the Federal Government to allow the state to fix them.
Speaking on the infrastructure battle of the Tinubu administration while inspecting ongoing road rehabilitations in Lagos, Umahi said the Federal Government cannot prevent governors from road repairs, which can enhance the welfare of residents.
He rejected what he described as blackmail by Edo State Governor, who had complained about the poor state of federal roads in the Southsouth state.
Umahi, the immediate-past Governor of Ebonyi State, said: “The ministry is willing to speed up approval for the state government to carry out rehabilitation of the bad potions.
“I will advise my brother and friend, Governor Godwin Obaseki, to stop playing politics with the lives of his citizens. He should stop trivalising the lives of his people on the altar of politics. The election has been won and lost.
“If he approaches me by whatever means to seek permission, even if he sends me requests by WhatsApp or whatever, I will give him approval within two hours so that he can start. But I am going to visit Edo State, and I am going to look at those roads.”
Umahi added: “I saw where something was credited to him; I believe he didn’t say so. But if he said so, this is the answer: that was not the true position. The true position is that all governors, and when I was governor, we also intervened in federal roads. My position is that when the people are suffering due to bad roads, the people do not know which one is federal, which one is state, and which one is local government.
“He doesn’t need our permission as such to intervene, to give a better life to the people of Edo State and other Nigerians that are using the roads.
“I want him to approach the Ministry of Works and seek permission. I am going to visit Edo State, and I am going to look at those roads. Every road in this country becomes a priority, and we are going to face the challenges within the limit of the scarce resources.
“My good brother Obaseki, I want you to send your request on WhatsApp to me, and I will give you approval within two hours when I get it. But I want to know what you are building, and I will advise you to use bitumen. I have seen some of those things in the pictures. If you use rigid pavements, and you can get the design within one hour from me, you will be very much safe.
“But we are also working in Edo State, from Lokoja to Benin, we are doing that. There are other jobs that are also ongoing Z in Benin, Edo State, that I cannot tell you off heart. But we are very committed in Edo State, and Mr. President is also very committed to every part of this country.”
