Umahi dismisses reports of rift with FCT minister, says ‘We need Wike as Wike needs us’
Dave Umahi, minister of works, has dismissed reports of a rift between him and Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Umahi described Wike as a progressive politician, adding that they are both members of the same political family.
The minister was responding to reports of divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and speculation about his relationship with Wike.
“We need Wike as Wike needs us. So, it’s one family,” he said.
Umahi said the differences between him and Wike had been exaggerated by their political opponents, insisting that his relationship with the FCT minister remains cordial.
He also said the focus should remain on national development rather than political differences among members of the same political family.
Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said in January that his rainbow coalition represents a shift from conventional party politics towards a collective political movement focused on advancing the interests of the state.
However, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) said it would not endorse any alliance or political arrangements that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.
‘WORKS MINISTRY INHERITED 2,068 PROJECTS’
The minister said the ministry of works inherited 2,068 ongoing projects valued at about N13 trillion.
He said the administration is working to address the country’s infrastructure deficit, arguing that borrowing for infrastructure should be viewed as an investment when projects can generate returns and contribute to economic growth.
On the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, Umahi defended the procurement process, saying the law recognises open competitive tendering, selective tendering and special procurement as valid methods.
He said the first phase of the coastal highway was executed through special procurement because of the project’s complex terrain and the need for a contractor with specialised coastal engineering experience.
According to him, the process received the approval of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the federal executive council (FEC).
He also said the external financing component of the project was oversubscribed by international financiers by more than $100 million, describing it as evidence that the project had been transparently handled.
Umahi said the federal government had launched “operation rescue” on the Asaba-Benin route following challenges associated with its concession.
He said the government had intervened in seven sections of the road to restore movement, while plans are underway to redesign and reconstruct the route using concrete pavement.
The minister defended the use of concrete pavement on major highways, saying the method would provide greater durability and could last for decades, potentially up to 100 years, when properly designed and maintained.
Umahi said the first 119-kilometre section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road had been completed.
He added that the second section, covering 164 kilometres, was expected to be completed by November 15.
The minister said the various infrastructure projects across the country demonstrated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to addressing the infrastructure deficit and improving connectivity between communities and regions.
“There is no part of this country, there is no state that is not a construction site under President Bola Tinubu,” Umahi said.
