By Our Correspondent
David Umahi, minister of Works who is a two term former governor of Ebonyi state is generally seen as one of the few performing minister in President Bola Tinubu lack lustre federal executive council. Therefore, it was not a surprise that he survived the recent cabinet reshuffle by Tinubu.
However, contrary to public perception a civil engineer and professional colleague of Umahi says, ”the man( Umahi) is the worst minister of Works in Nigeria”s recent history.
According to Edwin Chukwudi everything about Umahi is public packaging and media hype. Umahi’s much touted achievements as governor of Ebonyi state is a ruse according to Chukwudi. He referenced the publicly acclaimed building of an airport in Abakaliki by Umahi as one of the biggest scam in the history of the state. The Ebonyi state airport is a white elephant project as FAAN and NCAA are yet to certify the airport till date.
Engr. Chukwudi noted that before the first plane could land on the airport the concrete tarmac was already cracking. These cracks were hastily covered with a layer of asphalt as Umahi allegedly ignored the basic engineering request to put asphalt on a solid base and not on a cracked surface.
Chukwudi argued that for pecuniary gains, Umahi failed to appreciate that asphalt is more flexible than concrete, and can handle temperature changes better. Also, asphalt runway can easily be resurfaced, thereby making maintenance easier.
Chukwudi described Umahi as one of Nigeria’s worst minister of works ever.
In his words “Umahi is destroying our roads and misleading the president on policy direction in the area of roads construction and maintenance.”
The Lagos based civil engineer who hails from Ebonyi State noted that “The reality which has been hidden from most Nigerians is that all the concrete roads build by Umahi in Ebonyi State failed completely,”
He disclosed that the concrete roads in Ebonyi State were riddled with pot holes and immediate cracks, and caused land/sand slides at the edge of all the roads. Consequently, in many parts of Ebonyi State the roads became unmotorable; to the extent that the incumbent governor of Ebonyi State had to re-award fresh contracts to cover the failed concrete roads with asphalt.
He added: “If Umahi is aware of the colossal failure of concrete roads, why then is he insisting on concrete roads all over the entire country? Corruption is the underlining factor according to Engineer Chukwudi.
“Due to his (Umahi) desperation, he cancelled firm contracts with reputable contractors under Babatunde Fashola as Minister of Works.
“He reportedly disrespected the contractors and introduced policies such as the suspension of VOP, re-scoping existing contractors and refusing to adapt the contract prices despite the huge devaluation of the naira.
“He also introduced concrete pavements in existing contracts, and outright cancellation of contracts without regards to provisions of the contracts terms and non performance of the Federal Ministry of Works as regards payments for certificates of jobs completed as well as delay in release of payments.
“Minister Umahi is allegedly forcing contractors who signed agreements with the previous administration to switch over to concrete despite not having the proper equipment, and no proper designs presented since they initially signed in for asphalt construction of roads.
“Part of the strategies is to replace existing contractors with those loyal and known to him for under hands deals. Umahi was alleged to have deceived the President into embarking on outlandish roads projects like the Calabar—Lagos Badagry—Sokoto road when critical intervention are needed in fixing very critical roads like Warri to Lokoja, East—West road and Abuja—Kano road.
Umahi’s poor policies on roads construction and maintenance is imparting the nation’s economy negatively.”
Chukwudi urged that the concrete roads and other poor roads network has led to increase in transport prices, and negatively affected foreign direct investments, most especially as foreign contractors executing projects in Nigeria had to have a rethink about equipment and capital importation.
Contrary to ECOWAS road rules, Umahi is authorizing the importation of cheap trucks from China that are well over the allowed road weight limits. Hence the concrete roads promoted by Umahi will easily cave in under the weight of such heavy trucks which are not permitted in Western countries.
Consequently, the anticipated level of damages to be done on the concrete roads overtime by these heavy trucks are better imagined.The
vision less road policies of Umahi, according to the first class trained engineer Chukwudi is going to create a major disaster for the country in the long run.
Therefore, he is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the minister of works, Umahi with immediate effect in the national interest. But will the president muster the courage to do so? Time will tell.
