Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has dismissed allegations by Senator Adams Oshiomhole that the federal government is unfairly distributing road construction projects across the country.The disagreement follows remarks by Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, accusing the ministry of favouring certain regions while neglecting key roads in Edo State and surrounding areas. He cited the poor condition of major routes linking Benin City to Warri, Asaba, Auchi and Okene, urging the government to adopt a more balanced national approach to infrastructure development.
Responding during an inspection of an ongoing road project on Friday, Umahi rejected the accusation, arguing that one of the roads highlighted by Oshiomhole had already been awarded by the federal government in 2018 while the former Edo governor was still in office.
The minister said he had no intention of engaging in a public dispute with Oshiomhole, whom he described as a senior colleague in both governance and the legislature. However, he maintained that leaders should also take responsibility for opportunities they had while serving in office.
Umahi noted that during his tenure as governor of Ebonyi State, he invested state resources in rehabilitating several federal roads without publicly complaining. He suggested that Oshiomhole could have taken similar steps while leading Edo State.
The exchange highlights growing political debate over infrastructure development in Nigeria, where road construction and maintenance remain key issues affecting economic growth, regional connectivity and public confidence in government.
