By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on Wednesday, disclosed that operations within his ministry are transparent, adding that there is nothing to hide.
The minister said all road projects being handled by his ministry are open to independent scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies.
Umahi disclosed this in Abuja while receiving a “Personality of the Year Award” from Al-Jazeera Newspaper Nigeria.
The minister announced that his ministry had written to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct independent investigations into federal road projects nationwide.
He said: “We wrote to ICPC to go round and investigate all our projects, not on paper, but physically. We also wrote to EFCC. We are not hiding anything”.
According to him, the ICPC had already concluded part of its assignment and is currently reviewing procurement processes within the ministry, while the EFCC is expected to begin its investigation after the Sallah break.
The minister explained that the ministry’s costing system allows for a detailed breakdown of materials and construction processes.
“If you ask me about any project cost, we can disaggregate it cement, sand, chippings, equipment everything is accounted for,” he said.
He noted that the shift from asphalt to concrete roads, though initially resisted, was in the public interest.
“We fought that battle because we believe concrete roads will last longer and serve Nigerians better,”
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Al Jazeera Nigeria Newspaper, Bassey Williams, described Umahi as a standout figure in public service after what he called a rigorous and independent selection process.
“After months of rigorous evaluation and peer consultation, the award committee of Al Jazeera Nigeria Newspaper unanimously selected Engineer David Nwaeze Umahi as Personality of the Year 2025 in the category of Infrastructure Transformation Icon.”
Similarly The Sports Unit of Ministry of Works held a colourful colourful celebration in honour of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, following the unit’s impressive outing at the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA).
Responding, with excited, The Minister commended the athletes for their dedication, discipline, and team spirit, describing their achievement as a reflection of the ministry’s collective commitment to excellence.
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