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Tag: Umahi

  • Umahi orders urgent repairs on damaged Shagamu–Benin Bridge deck

    Umahi orders urgent repairs on damaged Shagamu–Benin Bridge deck

    The  Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has directed  urgent repairs on the damaged deck of the Benin-bound carriageway on the Shagamu–Benin Bridge.

    The minister gave the directive in a statement on Tuesday after receiving reports of damage on the border between Edo and Ondo states.

    The statement was issued by the Special Adviser (Media) to Umahi, Mr Orji Uchenna Orji.

    Umahi noted that the bridge, which was built in 1981, had five spans and a double carriageway.

    He said that the damage, which appeared on one span of the Benin-bound section, was caused by age-related wear and tear.

    “Bridges naturally deteriorate with time due to heavy traffic, weather conditions and other factors.

    “This one is over 40 years old, and the deck slab has aged,” he said.

    The minister said that a team of engineers had been dispatched to assess and begin repairs on the bridge.

    According to Umahi, once the concrete work is done, the affected section will be closed for up to 45 days to allow the concrete to mature before vehicles can move on it again.

    He assured motorists that traffic would be diverted to the other carriageway during the period, adding that the Federal Road Safety Corps would be on ground to manage traffic.

    Umahi apologised to road users for the inconvenience but said that the repairs would be necessary to guarantee safety.

    The minister recalled that a similar incident happened on another span of the bridge in the past and was quickly fixed.

    “Mr President is committed to fixing our road infrastructure.

    “In 2025 alone, over 30 bridges across the country are receiving attention.

    “The Renewed Hope agenda is not just about patching old structures but about transforming the whole road network for economic growth,” Umahi said.

  • Umahi clarifies report on Third Mainland, Carter bridges

    Umahi clarifies report on Third Mainland, Carter bridges

    The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, says his presentation to the Federal Executive Council about Lagos bridges was distorted on social media.

    ‎Umahi said in Lagos on Monday that the misrepresentation led to speculations and even mockery by ill-informed members of the public.

    The minister spoke during a tour of some road and bridge projects.

    Umahi urged the public to rely on verified government updates instead of social media misinformation.

    ‎He said that both Third Mainland and Carter bridges had been under technical review since 2013.

    ‎He emphasised that saltwater penetration, illegal sand mining and rusting of piles had worsened their structural defects.

    The minister said that technical inspections of Lagos bridges in 2013, 2019 and 2023 showed deterioration  under water.

    ‎”Specialist contractors and consultants reported that Carter Bridge’s defects were advancing exponentially.

    ‎”Findings revealed heavy corrosion, pile weakening and sand erosion due to neglect and illegal dredging,” he said.

    According to Umahi, bridge construction experts have advised that Carter Bridge should be demolished and replaced.

    He said that stakeholders and contractors agreed that replacement was safer and more cost-effective than repairs.

    “ If we repair Carter Bridge for another 50 years, it is going to take N389 billion but to construct a brand new bridge that will also increase the span for navigation will cost about N359 billion.

    “That is what they said to us. That is Berger’s own estimates. We didn’t call for bidding, we called for information,” he said.

    He said that he had not given the Federal Executive Council any figure for approval.

    “ We have not presented any figure for approval, we have given them the idea of what Berger sent, and we say we don’t trust that figure.

    “ If they are more than six or seven people that quoted, we can begin to trust.”

    Umahi, however, said that experts did not recommend demolition of the Third Mainland Bridge.

    He noted that the surface repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge had been completed.

    He gave the assurance that monitoring and maintenance would continue on the bridge to avoid further deterioration.

    ‎”Specialist contractors and independent diving consultants confirmed stability for now,” he said.

    ‎The Minister reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring public safety on all federal bridges.

  • Minister clarifies crack on Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway

    Minister clarifies crack on Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway

    Works Minister Dave Umahi has reacted to reports that there are cracks on some section of Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, recently inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Umahi said what was erroneously viewed as cracks on parts of the completed 30 kilometres were ‘’untreated sand-filled shoulders’’of the highway and not the main carriageway.

    “These cracks are not on any section of the actual road. They appeared on the untreated sand shoulders and are the result of natural water erosion, ‘’ he clarified during a news conference in Abuja yesterday.

    Umahi assured that “no completed section of the carriageway will crack  once we complete the underground drainage and ducting systems.”

    He also revealed that a new contract was being finalised by the ministry and the Lagos State Government to complete service lanes and integrate necessary drainage infrastructure on the Lagos section of the  700-kilometre coastal highway.  The purpose, according to him, is to ensure long-term integrity of the project.

    On bridge infrastructure, Umahi said that the Third Mainland and Carter bridges remained closed to heavy-duty vehicles until final technical evaluations.

    “Over-height trucks have caused structural damage to several flyovers. To address this, we are designing reinforced gantries fitted with spikes, and increasing the clearance height from 5.6 metres to 6.5 metres to prevent further damage and ensure public safety,”  he explained.

    Giving an update on ongoing road projects, the minister stressed that a sweeping wave of infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction was underway across the country.

  • FG requires N3trn to complete NNPCL-funded road projects – Umahi

    FG requires N3trn to complete NNPCL-funded road projects – Umahi

    The Federal Government requires ₦3 trillion to complete road projects awarded under the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) tax credit scheme.

    Works Minister David Umahi in Abuja while briefing newsmen.

    He said that following the NNPCL’s decision to halt funding from Aug. 1, President Bola Tinubu directed the ministry to explore alternative sources of financing to ensure no project is abandoned.

    “Our President is a man with a large heart. Despite the funding stoppage by NNPCL, Mr President, as Chairman of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), directed that alternative funding mechanisms be put in place to ensure completion of all projects,” Umahi said.

    He noted that the ministry has compiled a list of all affected projects and will present them to the President for consideration under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) where applicable, especially for contractors with capacity and funding.

    “We are going to prepare a memo to the President on that,” he said.

    Umahi also said that work has began on the Benin-Warri, Benin-Asaba road to the first Niger Bridge, the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road and the Bayelsa and Delta axis have been

    He added that in the North Central,the Koton Karfe and the Keffi bridges,the Katsina-Ala road project through Benue has also been approved for execution.

    Umahi said the Kabba-Ekiti road was also ongoing as well as the Benin by pass road in the South-South.

    He said that there were a lot of emergency projects in the Northeast,in Gombe, Bauchi to Azare area and the long stretch of Kano to Maiduguri.

    Other ongoing projects, he said, are the Bauchi to Jigawa,Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi,Gombe-Bauchi,Kwara-Jebba,Mokwa roads.

    The Minister of State for Works, Malam Bello Goronyo, commended president Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to road infrastructure .

    Goronyo said,”This is a president that has shown an uncommon commitment to fixing our roads that were neglected hitherto for more than 45 to 47 years ago.

    “I want to say that we can never have it better than this time when the roads are being maintained and reconstructed and this is something that each and every one of us can feel,see, and touch.”

    Goronyo commended the media for showcasing the work of the minsitey and urged them to always verify information before going to press to avoid fallacy.

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr Olufunsho Adebiyi,said the claim of marginalisation in road projects was not true as there were many factors that determines the cost of fixing a one kilometre road.

    “So what you need to fix a one kilometre road in Bayelsa, may do up to 10 in Katsina why? Because of the terrain , the water table, nearness to the materials required and so many things required.

    “Please recognise this,”he said

    Adebiyi said the knowledge would help Nigerians understand the dynamics of road projects.

  • South East will produce president, but not in 2027 – Umahi

    South East will produce president, but not in 2027 – Umahi

    The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said the South East will produce the President of Nigeria but not in the coming election in 2027 and also claimed the region is not being marginalized in the current administration.

    He reacted to a publication by one Linus Anagboso (known as D-Big Pen) which claimed that the South East was neglected in road infrastructure development.

    This is contained in a statement by Mohammed Ahmed, Director, Press and Public, in the Ministry and made available to newsmen on Monday.

    Umahi said that the publication titled “The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East Missing from the Map?” was mischievous and deceptive.

    He demanded that Anagboso retract the statement immediately.

    According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu has been fair to all regions of the country, including the South East.

    He noted that Tinubu had revived 90 per cent of abandoned road projects, some dating back to 2013, and still executing new ones without discrimination.

    He also said that four Legacy Projects were approved to cover all six geo-political zones.

    According to him, one of them, which runs from Cross River through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa to Abuja, includes a significant portion in the South East; about 231.64 kilometres and is already awarded at a cost of N445.8 billion.

    The minister further said that the last Federal Executive Council meeting approved the review of the corridor length to 231.64 km at the same contract sum.

    He added that Anagboso deliberately misrepresented this as an Oyo-Benue road to mislead the public.

    He listed major projects ongoing in the South East to include the Second Niger Bridge Access Roads; Section 2A in Delta (N146 billion) and Section 2B in Anambra (N176 billion).

    Other major ongoing projects the minister said were the Enugu-Onitsha Road (208 km), with MTN Tax Credit funding of N202 billion and CBC handling the remaining sections for N150 billion.

    ”There is also the Enugu–Port Harcourt Road in four sections; Enugu-Abakaliki, Afikpo-Abia-Imo, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, and Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene,” he said..

    Umahi urged the people of the South East to support Tinubu, noting that his administration had shown fairness and love to the region.

    He also commended the South East governors for supporting the Federal Government and urged citizens to stand by them as they work for their second term in office.

    According to him, One day, the South East will produce the President of Nigeria, but not in 2027.

    He reaffirmed his commitment to correcting any false claims meant to deceive the people.

  • Lagos bridges won’t be shut without proper analysis – Umahi

    Lagos bridges won’t be shut without proper analysis – Umahi

    The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has reiterated that bridges in Lagos State will not be closed without a thorough analysis and putting in place certain measures.

    Umahi gave the assurance while inspecting the Marine Bridge in Lagos on Wednesday.

    Marine Bridge, Lagos, is also known as Ijora-Marine-Apapa Link Bridge. The bridge is about two kilometres in length.

    Umahi said. “I promised Lagosians and Nigerians that, for any bridge to get closed in Lagos, we have to come here and analyse it.”

    He said the Federal Government would need to close the Marine Bridge for repairs due to the magnitude of work to be done on it.

    ‘‘We are giving  approval for the Lagos controller to close the bridge, but we must do the following,” he said.

    Umahi said that the government must announce the date that the bridge would be closed and deploy the method statement – what it intended to do and achieve.

    The minister said that the government must provide the drawing of the traffic diversion and tell the public where the traffic would be diverted to.

    According to him, lifting the span of the bridge to change the bearings cannot be achieved by partially closing the bridge.

    “It is a 21-day job, but we are going to see if we can shorten it.

    “If the Marine Bridge repair work was just about the surface or structural elements on top, we wouldn’t have to close it because it is painful to have any of the routes in Lagos closed.

    “This one entails lifting of the entire span to change the bearings. A bearing is like a shock absorber.

    “If it weren’t that serious, we wouldn’t be advocating to close the bridge,” the minister explained.

    Umahi also said that closure of any bridge in Lagos would require live discussions with the state residents.

    “Julius Berger will be there, FERMA will be there, the controller and engineers will be there.

    “We will provide phone numbers that the public can call, send text messages and get replies.

    “We respect Lagosians, we respect Nigerians,” Umahi said.

    He praised Julius Berger Plc., which is handling the project and Eko Bridge rehabilitation, for efforts.

    “I have had to climb a height of over 30 metres to look at what they are doing at Eko Bridge,” he said.

  • Only APC exists in Ebonyi, no opposition – Umahi

    Only APC exists in Ebonyi, no opposition – Umahi

    The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, declared on Saturday that there is no opposition party in Ebonyi aside from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Umahi stated this made during a grand civic reception held in his honour by the Okposi-Okwu in Ohaozara Local Government Area.

    The event celebrated the minister for his quality leadership and contributions to national development.

    He called on the South-East and the rest of Nigeria to show more support and solidarity for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    “There is no opposition party in Ebonyi. Only APC exists. If you are bold, come and contest against us.

    “We must support President Tinubu. I am happy to be honoured today. I accept it and will bring more infrastructure to Okposi-Okwu,” he said.

    He dedicated the award to President Tinubu, who he said had changed the South-East’s political narrative.

    “The greatest honour is continuous support for the president and commitment to complete projects in the region,” Umahi said.

    He also encouraged all governors to unite in support of national development and progress.

    The Chairman of the occasion, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, praised Umahi as an illustrious and visionary son.

    “Umahi remains a transformer in governance. I congratulate him and pray for greater achievements,” Anyim said.

    In his address, Gov. Francis Nwifuru said the South-East owes a debt of gratitude to President Tinubu and must support him.

    Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, also commended the community for recognising Umahi.

    “I join the people of Okposi-Okwu in congratulating Umahi for his remarkable impact and exceptional leadership across Nigeria,” said Abiodun.

    NAN reports that the event was attended by members of the National Assembly and other dignitaries.

  • FG to flag off Cross River section of coastal highway April 14

    FG to flag off Cross River section of coastal highway April 14

    The Federal Government is set to flag off construction of the Cross River  and Akwa Ibom section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

    The section is known as Section B3 of the coastal highway project.

    The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made the disclosure at a stakeholders engagement on Section  Two of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Lagos on Sunday.

    “We are going there, to Cross River, on 14, to flag off the construction. By 15, we also go to Akwa Ibom to flag off.

    “That 65km is the worst terrain. It is 65km times two, which is 130km,” he said.

    On the second legacy project, Sokoto-Badagry Highway, the minister noted that one section in Sokoto was 120km.

    “The third section of Sokoto-Badagry is going to start from Badagry but we have a few challenges.

    “We have rivers of three kilometres to cross. That is a lot of money.

    “We have proposed four options, which I am going to be discussing with Mr President, and whichever option he chooses, that is what we are going to choose.”

    Umahi gave the assurance that procurement regarding the project would start as soon as the discussions would be over, after which work would start.

  • Emergency at Eko Bridge: FG expresses concern

    Emergency at Eko Bridge: FG expresses concern

    The Federal Government on Saturday announced an emergency situation at the Eko Bridge, Lagos, that almost warranted a closure.

    The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made the announcement during an inspection tour of the bridge.

    “We had a very terrible situation at Eko Bridge with one of the pier caps totally damaged, and again, I was only told last night.

    According to the minister, a dredger hit the pier cap and destroyed the pier and many rods.

    “Pier caps are to bridges what the legs are to human beings.

    “What is holding that section are only rods. Some of the roads were damaged also.

    “I immediately directed divers to be deployed,” he said.

    He said that he also got into a smaller boat and went under the water to know the level of damage below the water.

    According to the minister, a whole pier was totally removed by the accident.

    “I was going to announce shutting down of the bridge but I have looked at it and there is something we can do, though very delicate, to restore it.

    “There will be no need of shutting down but it is an emergency situation,” he said.

    He said that he had directed the contractor handling the bridge repair on what to do.

    The minister, who also inspected the Third Mainland Bridge, expressed satisfaction at the progress of work there.

    “We have inspected the Third Mainland Bridge, and Carter Bridge, both being handled by Julius Berger, and we are satisfied with the work.

    “I can say that the work on Third Mainland Bridge is about 50 per cent completed, and that of Carter Bridge, about 70 per cent completed.”

    He said that the slab on the Third Mainland Bridge had deflection compelling its closure against articulated vehicles.

    Umahi said that Julius Berger insisted that there was a new design to tackle that and would want designers from the Federal Ministry of Works to go with its team to Germany to look at the new design.

    “We will nominate four people who will go to Germany and look at the new design method and then, we will approve,” he added.

    Earlier, Mr Ghassan Kaadi, the Project Coordinator for Build Well, the contractor handling the Eko Bridge rehabilitation project, said that the project was 75 per cent completed.

    “All the asphalt has been done. All the bearing has been changed.

    “We are changing, right now, the remaining of the expansion joint.

    “We have 1,000 meters of expansion joint. We are at 700 right now.

    “The solar light, is almost 90 per cent done,” he said.

    He added that 2,500 metres of the 6,000 concrete handrail had been done.

    Mr Thomas Christ, Regional Manager, West, Julius Berger Plc., the contractor handing Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge repairs, said that the company was aware of how critical the bridges were in connecting motorists and commuters from Lagos Island to Lagos Mainland.

    “ That is why we are working here with the best engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works.

    “We did some investigations under water and above the water on the quality and the structural integrity of the bridges.”

    He said that Julius Berger was working with engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works to find out the best solution to the bridges.

    He said that the company was intensifying efforts to finish the works as fast as possible and make the bridges sustainable.

  • Umahi denies owing N200m during governorship campaign

    Umahi denies owing N200m during governorship campaign

    The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, on Thursday denied owing a businesswoman, Mrs Tracynither Ohiri, N200 million for promotional materials she supplied during his 2014 governorship campaign.

    Umahi denied the allegation while fielding  questions from journalists during his tour of the Independence Bridge in Lagos.

    He said: “When I left office and then became a minister,  she was going about saying that I owe her N200 million in 2014.

    “The entire election in 2014 for me to be a governor did not cost me up to N100 million; so, how would campaign material be N200 million?”

    He challenged Ohiri to provide evidence of any contract, proof of funds withdrawn, and bank statements to support her claim.

    “Where is the contract paper? Where did you draw the money from? Can you publish your account where you withdrew the money?

    ”At least, you would have used up N150 million. Can you publish it.

    ”I think that woman is sponsored.  I saw what she did to three other governors.

    “I  had thought it was a mental case, so I didn’t bother but I think some people that have been castigating me that we destroyed their property,  staging protests, have bought into the matter.

    “That is why I am going to legally teach whoever is the sponsor some lessons,” he added.

    The minister said that he had instructed his lawyers to initiate legal proceedings against Ohiri, seeking damages.

    On  alleged sexual harassment, Umahi said that no such thing happened.

    Umahi expressed concern over the potential implications of an such an allegation.

    He said that some unserious ones were beginning to think that accusing men of sexual harassment would be the way to go.

    The minister advised women to rise up against the trend, which he described as unfortunate.

    “We will use this one to teach a lesson.”