Group Accuses Dishonest Contractors, Politicians Of Gang-Up Against Umahi

A non-governmental organization championing probity and accountability in public service, Nigerian Good Governance Collective (NGGC), has identified dishonest contractors, unpatriotic federal civil servants and disgruntled politicians as those fueling the current media bashing of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi.

    NGGC regretted the nefarious attempts being made to destabilize President Ahmed Tinubu’s administration by some highly-placed individuals, including big-time contractors and politicians by targeting up and doing members of the federal cabinet.

 In a statement signed by Engineer Frank Ngwu, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Kuna and Peterson Ebah Dominic, the group urged Nigerians not to be deceived by the media frenzy being orchestrated by enemies of the country’s socio-economic development and political stability over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.

   Describing the media attacks against the Minister of Works, Engr. Umahi, as a storm in a teacup, NGGC said the purveyors of hate against the Tinubu administration singled out the Minister for vilification to achieve their sinister motive of distracting and destabilizing the Federal Government.

    “But, findings have revealed that corrupt road contractors that have been short-changing Nigerians through shoddy jobs and wanton breach of agreements are cashing in on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project to carry out their sinister plots.

   “There is no doubt that the orchestrated media outcry is intended to create the enabling environment for civil disobedience in the country by instigating the Niger Delta to resume militancy, which the plotters anticipate as the inevitable reaction to the possible abandonment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road construction,” part of the statement read in observing the media feast on Umahi.

   NGGC lamented that the hullabaloo over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has tended to distract Nigerians from a holistic evaluation and appreciation of the infrastructure segment of the Renewed Hope agenda of the Tinubu administration.

   According to the group, “It is evident that public attention has shifted from the comparative analysis of what obtained in the infrastructure sector during the preceding administrations and the current Tinubu government.   

    “Before this noise, Nigerians were excited about the rigorous interface between Senator Umahi and Contractors, especially the speed being deployed in the execution of federal road contracts under the current minister.

 “Those refreshing sights and achievements were a source of joy to Nigerians who were beginning to see the benefits of having a professional Engineer as Minister of Works.”

   While pleading that Engineer Umahi should be allowed to carry out his assignments, NGGC said Nigerians should be united in celebrating the unique push to improve and modernize the country’s infrastructure, which has always excelled in deficit and dilapidation rather than the media bashing.

    “As a former Governor, President Tinubu knows too well the impact of the failed Lagos State metro project on the provision of critical infrastructure, as well as the consequences of asset depreciation when projects are made to suffer undue delays at the altar of petty bickering and political disputations.

   “This realization must have informed FG’s determination to get the Coastal Road project going in earnest. And, having a passionate civil engineer, who excelled in private sector and public office as a former governor, the Tinubu administration has demonstrated its determination to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of improved infrastructure.

   “The Federal Government is convinced that a coastal highway in Nigeria will help the country achieve a giant leap in socio-economic development through improved transportation, especially where coastal areas are linked up with the inland in seamless capillaries of roads, facilitating movement of citizens, goods and services.

     “The benefits of coastal roads are massive. That is why it has become the pathway to modern cities as they help not only to avert the danger of ungoverned spaces that terrorists occupy, but also to boost tourism development through the dispersal of hotels, leisure facilities and opening up of commercial centres in remote parts,” NGGC asserted in rebuffing the media bashing of Umahi.

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