…Calls on other Governors to emulate Niger State Gov. in approach/dealing with contractors to get value for money
By Dele Ogbodo
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Engr. David Umahi, as the Minister of Works with the mandate to drive the president’s renewed hope agenda on road infrastructure.
The Senator acknowledged the Minister for demonstrating the hallmark of commitment and dedication to duty, which makes him a round peg in a round hole, adding: “I commend President Bola Tinubu for appointing him as the Minister of Works.”
In a statement made available to the media on Monday, and signed by Barr, Orji Uchenna Orji, he said that it is quite amazing that the Minister was ready to wield the big stick to deal with anyone trying to sabotage the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Ministry…warning that: “anyone found wanting will face the consequences and report to EFCC where necessary.”
The Senator said: “I commend the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, for his dedication to duty and exemplary leadership in steering the ship of the Federal Ministry of Works to deliver on the national road master plan of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“The Minister demonstrated this when he convened a stakeholder meeting in his office in Abuja to discuss the issues militating against the timely completion of the 10 on-going federal road projects in different parts of Niger State.
“I had the privilege of leading members of the National Assembly from Niger State as part of the team of the Governor of Niger State, Mr. Mohammed Umar Bago and I was highly impressed with the presentation made by the Governor where he recounted the status of each of the road projects across the state by their names, where he called on the Minister to revoke the contract of Minna-Suleja road project that was first awarded in 2010.”
Musa, added that he was impressed with the Minister’s proactive and decisive steps in addressing all the issues raised at the meeting, including invoking the relevant sections of the law to revoke some of the non-performing contracts and in reprimanding some erring contractors and members of staff of the Ministry who were compromising their positions in the management of the road contract processes.
He said: “The good people of Niger State are delighted to note that the Minister has directed the revocation, redesigning and re-awarding of the dualization of Suleja-Lambatta-Minna (Phase 1 & 2) and has given marching order to the contractor handling the Reconstruction of Bida-Lapai-Lambatta, road to return to site and to start work from the Bida-Lapai axis as requested by Governor Bago as he also assured that he would source for more funds for the rehabilitation of Mokwa-Makera-Tegina road project in 2025 budget.
“I must equally commend the profound sense of responsibility and commitment of the workaholic Governor who would not fold his arms while federal road projects in the State continued to suffer neglect and substandard work at the detriment of the people of Niger State.
I call on all Governors to emulate Bago by engaging with federal contractors in their States to get value for money and support Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a better Nigeria.”