Oshiomhole tackles Umahi over road projects

Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole has accused Works Minister, David Umahi of bias in how funds for federal road projects are shared, insisting that fixing bad existing roads should come before building new ones.

Oshiomhole spoke during a podcast interview circulating on social media, where he revisited his clash with Umahi over the ministry’s budget and handling of federal roads.

The senator said his criticism of the minister at a National Assembly budget defence was part of his job as a lawmaker to question government spending and ensure money goes to where it is most needed.

He said he asked why government was budgeting for new roads when many federal roads across the country were in bad shape and needed urgent repair.

According to him, the ministry should first make existing roads motorable before starting new projects.

“As a manager, you don’t keep building new houses when you can’t maintain the ones you have. It is common sense,” he said.

The former governor said his position was not political, even though he is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and an ally of President Bola Tinubu.

He accused Umahi of hiding behind the President’s name instead of answering the issues raised at the hearing.

“Ministers should not drop his name to cover up their own mess,” Oshiomhole said, adding that the President cannot supervise every ministry.

He said it was the duty of the Works Minister to assess road conditions, set priorities and propose budgets accordingly.

Oshiomhole also faulted the Minister’s plan to take more new road projects to the Federal Executive Council, saying available funds should be used to repair existing roads.

He questioned how some contractors got the jobs and said the ministry must take responsibility for contractors it hires.

He noted that government set up FERMA to maintain roads, and called for better coordination between the agency and the ministry.

Oshiomhole urged the Minister to use reports from federal controllers of works across the zones to know which roads are bad and need attention, even if he cannot visit every road himself.