A House of Representatives committee has slammed Nigeria’s Minister of Works Dave Umahi over the harrowing condition of Federal roads.
“In less than one minute, everything that everybody has said is a clue that you have no plan for us as a nation. You have no plan for us as a nation. I was wondering what was used as a benchmark for your appraisal,” Hon. Remi Oseni tackled the Minister, in part of his committee’s session with the Minister that came to light via a video clip posted on X on Sunday.
However, Oseni, who represents Ibarapa/Ido Federal Constituency in Oyo State, recalled how the House had approved N300 billion allocation to the Ministry last year while accusing Umahi of prioritising things of less importance.
Representatives bared their fangs at the House hearing in which the Ministry’s Director of Bridges, Bede Obiora, blamed funding constraints for the bad condition of roads in the country.
Umahi was absent at the hearing, however.
Oseni faulted Umahi over inefficiency as he questioned how he retained his portfolio during President Tinubu’s ministerial reshuffling.
“You are not here to come and tell us what we already know in the area of resources.
“So if you are telling us the reason why you have failed in fixing our road infrastructures is because of resources, don’t let us take you up there because you concentrated your energy as a Minister on less priority issues. Don’t discuss resources.
“All the roads that we have across the country have failed. If you are addressing these roads, the existing roads with the resources that you have, Sir Honourable Minister, we will not be where we are. Don’t discuss resources. I say it again.
“You came here last year and got N300 billion budget approval, supplementary approval. Don’t raise my emotions.
“I am worried that you are not concerned about fixing Nigerian roads.
“We are not here for business of whether you want to do the job or don’t want to do the job.
“Stop telling us you are awarding roads. We don’t want you to be awarding roads you are not ready to do. How can you be telling us there are no resources?
“In less than one minute, from everything that everybody has said, it is a clue that you have no plan for us as a nation.
“I was wondering what was used as the benchmark for your appraisal.”
The lawmakers said Umahi had not shown capacity to fix Nigerian roads.
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He said the Minister’s argument of lacking resources could not stand, as the ministry was awarding more road contracts.
“We are not here for you to tell us what you already knew in an area of resources. So if you’re telling us the reason you have failed in fixing our rural infrastructures is because of resources, don’t let me take you up there because you concentrated your resources as a Minister on less priority issues. Don’t discuss resources; I say this again.
“Again, all the roads we have across the country have failed. If you’re addressing these existing roads with the resources that you have, Sir, honourable minister, we wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now. Don’t discuss resources. I say it again.
“You came here last year and got N300 billion supplementary budget approval. Don’t raise my emotions. I am worried that you’re not concerned about fixing Nigerian roads.
“We are not here for the business of whether you don’t want to do the job or you want to do the job. Stop telling us you’re awarding roads. We don’t want you to be awarding roads that you’re not ready to do. How can you be telling us there’s no resources?
