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Tag: Umahi

  • Equipment worth 1.2m Euros to maintain Eko Bridge – Umahi

    Equipment worth 1.2m Euros to maintain Eko Bridge – Umahi

    Equipment worth 1.2 million Euros will be imported to effect maintenance on Eko Bridge in Lagos, Minister of Works, Sen. David  Umahi says.

    Mr Clement Ezeorah, Assistant Director, Information, at the Federal Ministry of Works made this known in a statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja.

    He stated that the minister made the declaration when he paid a working visit to the Third Mainland Bridge, Carter, Falomo, Iddo, Eko, Marina and Iganmu bridges in Lagos State.

    He added that the minister inspected the bridges on Saturday alongside some directors in the ministry and contractors.

    Ezeorah quoted the minister as saying that the deck on Eko Bridge would be opened to effect the maintenance.

    Umahi commended President Buhari’s administration’s work on bridges, noting that the Second Mainland Bridge, also known as Eko Bridge suffer two problems.

    “Eko Bridge suffers two problems – the lack of maintenance, and the eating up of the bearings. There are lots of pair gaps, but the last administration did a very good and wonderful work.

    “Work is on-going; it will be completed in 2024 because we are pushing for increase in the number of workers and equipment to site.

    “Without Eko Bridge, we will not have any truck coming into Lagos Island,’’ the minister said.

    Ezeorah stated also that Umahi said the Third Mainland Bridge, built in two sections required comprehensive maintenance, particularly by the Federal Government.

    The minister noted that the deflection on the bridge was caused by the lack of maintenance by successive Federal Government administrations preceding that of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He noted also that the facility, however, received attention by the state government since President Bola Tinubu became governor of Lagos State.

    The Phase One of the 11.8km Third Mainland Bridge was inaugurated by President Shehu Shagari in 1980 and completed by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990.

    It is the third bridge connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland. The two other bridges connecting the two parts are the Second Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge.

    Umahi thanked President Tinubu and the National Assembly for looking at infrastructure in Lagos State strategically.

    He noted that Lagos State was the financial capital of the country which had lots of national infrastructure that tremendously add to the country’s GDP and should not be neglected.

  • FG says only competent contractors will handle road projects

    FG says only competent contractors will handle road projects

    The Federal Government says only competent contractors will henceforth be engaged in handling road projects across the country to reduce the incidence of delay in completion.

    Sen. Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, disclosed this to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that some contractors have been identified with collecting several road projects at once without the capacity to handle such projects.

    ‘’The delay of contractor completion has been identified as the propensity of contractors to take on several road projects that they do not have the equipment to tackle.

    ‘’This has led to delays and sometimes abandonment of projects across the country. This needs to change so that the renewed hope of the Tinubu-led administration can reach and benefit the people,’’ he said.

    Umahi said that the President also approved the contract for various roads across the country that needed urgent attention including the Benin-Sapele, Third Mainland bridge rehabilitation, the East-West road among others.

    On the use of asphalt, the minister said that contractors are allowed to use it with certain conditions attached so as to ensure quality job.

    ‘’The ministry is only providing an alternative to asphalt by introducing the use of concrete in road constructions. But if any contractor wishes to continue with the asphalt, then he must meet conditions.

    ‘’The conditions are that you will guarantee Nigerians that when you finish this asphalt road, job, which you are very sure it will not fail within at least 15 years. The design shelf life is 20 years but assure us in writing from a reputable insurance company and from their own company that this road will not fail within 15 years.

    ‘’So we are saying that concrete is very friendly with water and so we want you contractors to have an alternative. There is a catalyst in the use of concrete pavement. It will create jobs for our people. Everything about the construction is local.

    ‘’10 manufacturers of cement have indicated interests to build cement factories. That is good for our economy. It will reduce pressure on the Naira. The road is going to be much more durable,’’ he said.

    Umahi called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to the various reforms by the administration to create a new economic prosperity for Nigerians, adding ”no gang up by anybody or group” will deter this determination.

  • Umahi urges MTN to include Ife-Ondo road in Tax Credit Scheme

    Umahi urges MTN to include Ife-Ondo road in Tax Credit Scheme

    The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has urged MTN Nigeria Communications to include Ife-Ondo road in the projects it is undertaking under the  tax credit scheme in the country.

    Mrs Blessing Lere-Adams, Director, Press and Public Relations Unit, Federal Ministry of Works, disclosed this in a statement.

    According to her, the minister made the appeal while hosting the management staff of MTN in Abuja.

    Umahi commended MTN Nigeria Communication Company for its dedication to the construction of roads across the country under the Tax Credit Scheme.

    “I thank MTN for several  ongoing laudable road construction projects under the  Tax Credit Scheme, we also thank you for your confidence in the country and our government.

    ‘‘Onitsha – Enugu dual carriage way is a very busy road and if not the most important in South East for our people, it is such a commendable engagement by MTN.

    “I visited this road last week , I like what RCC Construction company is doing.

    “I am very satisfied with their work, it is very impeccable measure of construction, I will be very happy if we can engage on the 2nd carriageway.

    “I am appealing that you to take on three more projects and one project that is very key to our people is Ife- Ondo road; we will be having a powerful engagement with you on how we can start this,” he said.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of MTN Nigeria and the  Chief Executive Officer, Mr Karl  Olutokun, said a lot of progress had been made since they started.

    “Without your tremendous support we would not have gotten this far, we assure you that we will be satisfactory to you and there will be no financial delay.

    “Our commitment to  these tremendous projects are demonstration of our commitment to this nation and the regime with  value of  sustainability of  our business,”Olutokun said.

  • Umahi decries dilapidated federal roads in Anambra, other South-East states

    Umahi decries dilapidated federal roads in Anambra, other South-East states

    The Minister of Works, Chief David Umahi, has decried the poor state of federal roads in the South-East geo-political zone, especially in Anambra and Ebonyi states.

    Umahi made his feelings known during a courtesy call on the Anambra Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, on Saturday night in Awka.

    The Minister said Anambra and Ebonyi were competing for the worst in terms of poor federal road projects in the country.

    He said that he had recently visited Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi states before coming to Anambra, saying that the situation is the same on the state of federal roads.

    Umahi, who before meeting Soludo had inspected Enugu-bound lane of the Onitsha/Enugu expressway, passed a vote of no confidence on the consultants supervising the reconstruction of the road.

    He regretted that the handlers of the very busy road were exposing road users to untold hardship.

    “I am a bit disappointed with the state of Enugu/Onitsha expressway; I have called both the contractors and consultants to a meeting this evening with the Governor.

    “I have equally passed a vote of no confidence on the consultants,” he said.

    He directed the firm to immediately rehabilitate the bad spots, which have caused vehicles to fall and other sundry hiccups on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

    The Minister said he was personally concerned due to a series of calls and complaints coming from the same road.

    “While MTN Nigeria says they have 100 per cent funding, the chairman of RCC construction firm, will say the opposite, complaining of funding problem.

    “We will all meet and sort out these problems because we cannot have one or two contractors doing 200 kilometers of road for seven years,” he said.

    Umahi, who noted that states in the South-East geo-political zone were not fairly treated on MTN Nigeria Tax Credit decision, said he was confident that Mr President would look into the matter in due course.

    “Yes, Enugu and Abia states benefitted, but that cannot be compared with other zones which got on the MTN Nigeria Tax Credit sharing formula.

    “I know as a man of justice and equity, President Bola Tinubu will look into the matter because development thrives on fairness and equity,” he said.

    Responding, Gov. Soludo said he was overwhelmed when President Tinubu appointed Umahi his minister of works.

    “Umahi’s appointment is a prayer answered for me because it is like a perfect round peg in a round hole,” he said.

    He regretted that the entire federal roads in Anambra were all bad, adding that urgent actions were needed to reduce the suffering facing road users on the roads.

    Soludo who appealed to the minister to replicate what he did on road construction in Ebonyi across the country, advocated for what he tagged mega-budget for road projects.

    According to him, the initiative would encourage the National Assembly to make adequate budgetary provisions for road projects that have lasted more than four years.

    He said when this is done, the government would no longer required to talk about budgetary allocation on existing roads yearly but would be spending on already approved fund to end problem of poor funding,” he said.

    According to NAN, before the courtesy visit, Umahi visited Enugu/Onitsha expressway, Oye-Oranto Ukpo road in Dunukofia, and Otuocha-Iheaka-Ibaji roads.

  • Senate: APC debunks nominating Umahi’s brother to replace him

    Senate: APC debunks nominating Umahi’s brother to replace him

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi, has debunked reports that it has nominated former Gov. David Umahi’s brother, Austin, to replace him in the Senate.

    The Ebonyi South senatorial district seat became vacant after Sen. David Umahi was appointed Minister of Works.

    The state Chairman of the party, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, debunked the report on Monday in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen, noting that the report was ‘false’.

    Okoro-Emegha said that Austin or any other person has not been nominated to fill the vacuum as the party will conduct a fresh primary to elect a candidate.

    “APC will field a candidate that will retain the seat because it belongs to us.

    “We will not allow any seat occupied by the party to go to the opposition because we are on ground in the state,” he said.

    The party’s chairman said that the APC will conduct a credible primary to elect a candidate who will be acceptable to it and the people.

    “The seat is an elective one so its occupant should emerge through a transparent process and not through nomination.

    “The governor, as the leader of the party, has the right to support any aspirant but that does not mean that the ticket belongs to anybody,” he said.

    He noted that the party was waiting for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seat vacant and issue guidelines on the conduct of its election.

    “Individuals who also say we would lose the state’s gubernatorial seat at the tribunal are dreaming because it was achieved through an overwhelming mandate.

    “The governor has, through his policies, started justifying the confidence reposed in him by the people as they knew his capabilities before electing him,” he said.

    Okoro-Emegha said that the party and Ebonyi people are still celebrating Umahi’s appointment as the minister of works.

    “Ebonyi was hitherto rated lowly in the country but we have continued to radiate light to all.

    “The position occupied by Umahi is not for political patronage but for the best brains with engineering and developmental acumen,” he said.

  • Umahi introduces night construction, to inaugurate Lagos-Ibadan Expressway September

    Umahi introduces night construction, to inaugurate Lagos-Ibadan Expressway September

    The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, on Tuesday introduced night construction to fast track Nigeria’s highway projects in line with global practices.

    Umahi said this during a visit to project sites in Lagos/Ogun States.

    He said during the visit that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway rehabilitation/reconstruction was 98 per cent completed and would be inaugurated mid-September.

    The minister said other ancillary works including interchanges and underpasses on the project would continue while he sought support of Ogun government towards payment of compensations for  Right of Way recovery.

    While inspecting section two of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, he was joined by Sen. Gbenga Daniel, a former Governor of Ogun.

    Umahi, who is a civil engineer, said the government was going to use consultants to concession and toll all federal highways in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

    He advised the contractor, Raynolds Construction Company (RCC), handling section two of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, to include a mix of cement in the Macadam being used on the project.

    The minister explained that inclusion of cement could make the highway last 100 years and be used for 50 years without maintenance.

    Daniel, on his part, thanked the Federal Government for the progress of the project, saying his people had endured hardship including gridlock and insecurity during construction works.

    “On behalf of our people, thank you for this quick visit,” he said.

    While inspecting the Lagoon section of Eko Bridge, Umahi instructed the engineers to introduce night construction in line with global practices.

    He said good construction ethics required minimal discomfort to road users, hence, the need to close critical sections that needed lifting for repairs after midnight.

    The minister added that night hours of construction under his supervision would improve the pace of project delivery.

    He said it was cost effective to maintain the bridges to prevent their collapse, noting that reconstruction of any bridge would cost trillions of Naira.

    Umahi assured the various contractors that the outstandings of their contract sums would be paid without further delay, so as to achieve prompt delivery of the projects.

    He  expressed satisfaction and praised the contractor, Buildwell Plants and Industries Ltd, for quality of work done at Apongbon, Ijora Olopa, Lagoon and Costain sections of Eko bridge.

    “We are happy with the designs and assure that the bridge will be completed before the end of November,” he said.

    Umahi promised to prevail on President Bola Tinubu for quick completion of bridges undergoing maintenance in Lagos State.

    While inspecting the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonsoki Expressway project, he praised Dangote for quality of work and use of concrete.

    “The -Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonsoki Expressway project is 99 per cent completed,” he said.

    He also commended Dangote for the durable rigid pavement construction done at Apapa-Wharf Road, insisting that henceforth, all projects supervised under him must be done with concrete.

    The minister, however, was unhappy with heaps of refuse along projects alignment from Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonsoki exit from the ports.

    Umahi said he would seek help of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on the issue.

    He urged his engineers to prevail on users of open spaces under the bridges to clean and maintain them.

    The minister started the inspection tour from outer Marina Road and transversed roads, met with traders under Liverpool Bridge, before ending the trip with a visit to Dangote Refinery Road at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

    Umahi was accompanied on the trip by the Federal Ministry of Works Director, Highways, Bridges and Designs, Mr Omotayo Awosanya, the Director, Federal Highways, Southwest, Mr Adedamola Kuti and other senior directors.

    Also on the delegation were the Federal Controllers of Works of Lagos and Ogun, Mrs Olukorede Kesha and Mrs Forosola Oloyede respectively, as well as officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

  • BREAKING: Finally, President Tinubu attaches ministerial portfolios to Wike, Umahi

    BREAKING: Finally, President Tinubu attaches ministerial portfolios to Wike, Umahi

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally assigned portfolios to immediate past governors of Rivers and Ebonyi states, Nyesom Wike and Dave Umahi, as ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Minister of Works, respectively.

    Tinubu on Wednesday approved the appointment of the new ministers and also allocated their portfolios.

    Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known while briefing State House Correspondents in Abuja,

    He said that the swearing-in is expected by next week after the retreat by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

  • “Tinubu is solely responsible for my ministerial nomination,” – Umahi

    “Tinubu is solely responsible for my ministerial nomination,” – Umahi

    Sen. David Umahi (APC–Ebonyi South), on Thursday, said that President Bola Tinubu is solely responsible for his nomination as a minister from Ebonyi.

    Umahi made the declaration in Abakaliki while speaking to newsmen on being received by Gov. Francis Nwifuru.

    The Senate Deputy Majority Leader, said he owed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for “fulfiling his promise during the trying period”.

    “My governor (Nwifuru) should be happy because he wished for it,” he said.

    He pledged to work assiduously in justifying the confidence reposed in him, noting that he had no inkling on the ministry to supretend.

    “I will work with the president to ensure that all promises he made are kept.

    “I cannot determine the particular ministry to head but I will justify the Ebonyi character of resourcefulness and exceptionality,” he said.

    The former governor commended Nwifuru for ‘taking care of the state well,’ since he left the seat in May.

    “I have not been to Ebonyi since the past two months and I am particularly happy with the condition of our airport.

    “It seems the airport is better maintained than in our time,” he said.

    Gov. Nwifuru in his remarks, said that Umahi’s nomination was pleasing to the government and people of the state.

    “Umahi is the leader we know and he is a person the nation needs.

    “It is gratifying that the president identified and found him worthy to work with.

    “We are very sure that he will make Ebonyi proud,” he said.

  • BREAKIING: Senate confirms body of principal officers as Bamidele, Umahi, others make final list

    BREAKIING: Senate confirms body of principal officers as Bamidele, Umahi, others make final list

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has announced the names of the majority leadership of the Tenth Senate.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that a lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Opeyemi Bamidele emerged as the Senate Leader.

    The leaders, who are all of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged through consensus.

    See list:

    Opeyemi Bamidele – Senate Majority Leader

    David Umahi – Deputy Majority Leader

    Mohammed Ali Ndume – Senate Majority Whip

    Lola Ashiru – Deputy Majority Whip

  • Group urges Tinubu to appoint Umahi as minister for works and transport

    Group urges Tinubu to appoint Umahi as minister for works and transport

    A professional group in the South East geo-political zone under the aegis of South East Professionals has urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint former governor of Ebonyi State Senator Dave Umahi as Minister for Works and Transport in his administration.

    Umahi is currently the Senator representing Ebonyi South senatorial district.

    The group in a statement signed by it’s Convener, Engr. Fredrick Ejimogu said that Senator Umahi will be well positioned as Minister for Works and Transport to bring unprecedented Infrastructural development to the country.

    Ejimogu disclosed that the commitment, zeal, and political will of Senator Umahi is what the country needs to achieve massive sustainable infrastructural development adding that the former Governor stands in a vintage position to replicate what he did in Ebonyi in 8 years across the country.

    “Governor Umahi has brought his wealth of experience in engineering to bear in the level of infrastructural development witnessed in Ebonyi.He is an embodiment of knowledge and paragon of excellence by the massive infrastructural development in the state.

    “The introduction of 9inches concrete pavement roads with a guarantee of 50years in Ebonyi State is now being copied by many State government to ensure durability. In Ebonyi today, all the roads constructed by Gov Umahi on concrete pavement are expected not to collapse in the next 50 years.

    Engr. Ejimogu who described as deplorable and death traps many major federal roads in the country, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency give a marching order to contractors handling several federal roads projects in the country back to site.

    The South East Professionals further urged President Bola Tinubu to consider those with track records of infrastructural development, corrupt free and National interest in making his Ministerial appointment adding that such will bring the much needed development in the country.

    Also, a Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Charles Akpu-Enika, said that Umahi has within the while he led as Ebonyi State Chairman of Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Deputy Governor and two-term Governor developed and grown uncommon political friendship and networks across the nation.

    Akpu-Enika, Anambra State-born politician, but long time resident of Ebonyi State explained that the perculiarity of Umahi’s kind of politics is his penchant for all inclusive polity, without sentiment of religion or ethnicity.

    He noted that each of the times the Nigeria nation has been challenged with issues that border on ethnic/religious sentiments, Umahi has stood strong on the side of national unity, and oneness even when such postures could kick against his personal interest.