Umahi Defends Tinubu’s Road Projects as Key to Fighting Insecurity, Obi Renews Calls for President’s Resignation
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended the Federal Government’s ongoing investment in road infrastructure, saying the projects are part of President Bola Tinubu’s strategy to improve national security and strengthen military operations across the country.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Bama-Banki and Dikwa-Gamboru-Ngala road projects in Borno State, Umahi said the highways would reconnect communities, stimulate economic activities and enhance the movement of security personnel in the North-East.
He noted that several road projects abandoned by previous administrations, including sections of the Kano-Maiduguri highway and other strategic routes, are now receiving renewed attention under the current administration.
According to the minister, improved road infrastructure is critical to addressing insecurity, particularly in border communities linked to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon, while also supporting regional trade and economic growth.
Representing President Tinubu at the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima described the projects as strategically important, stressing that poor road networks also pose security challenges by limiting the movement of security agencies.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum welcomed the projects, saying they would boost economic activities, reconnect communities and strengthen ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in the state.
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s infrastructure development, revealing that the group is currently executing more than 1,000 kilometres of concrete road projects valued at over N3 trillion across the country.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi renewed his call for President Tinubu to resign, citing concerns over alleged off-budget government expenditure reported in the IMF’s recent Article IV consultation.
Obi argued that the reported spending raised serious questions about transparency, accountability and public financial management, claiming the funds could have been better utilised to improve education, healthcare and other critical sectors.
He maintained that the administration must provide Nigerians with a full explanation regarding the expenditure and called for greater accountability in the management of public resources.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also urged authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the reported off-budget expenditure, while the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE) warned that such practices could undermine fiscal transparency and investor confidence.
