Umahi Tells NANS: Judge Tinubu Administration by Performance
Works Ministry, Stop Chasing Shadows

The work Minister, Engr. David Umahi, has urged Nigerian students to ignore religious and ethnic sentiments in politics and instead assess the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu based on its performance and achievements.
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Umahi made the call on Monday in Abuja when the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its National President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, paid him a courtesy visit.

The Minister urged young Nigerians to stop “chasing shadows” and concentrate on issues that directly affect the development and future of the country.

“What has religion got to do with performance? If we agree that we are brothers and sisters, forget about your religion. Because nobody intentionally chose a religion. It’s based on weighing with God. And we are all created by the same God,” he said.

Umahi was apparently referring to recurring debates over religion and ethnicity in Nigerian politics, including criticisms of the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 elections and similar discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said Nigerians should focus on what government is doing rather than allowing religious and ethnic sentiments to dominate national discourse.

The Minister also called on students to support the Tinubu administration, arguing that the government had recorded significant progress in infrastructure development and economic reforms.

“This is the time to take sides in our national affairs,” Umahi said, while urging Nigerians to judge the administration by its achievements.

He listed several major road projects being executed by the Federal Government, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Superhighway, the Sokoto-Zamfara-Zaria road, Benue-9th Mile road and the Port Harcourt road.

According to him, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano project, covering about 375 kilometres, has recorded substantial financial commitments, with more than 80 per cent of the required payments made.

He expressed optimism that the entire stretch would be completed by November.
Umahi also disclosed that the 350-kilometre Sokoto-Zamfara-Zaria road was being constructed with reinforced concrete pavement, while the 260-kilometre Benue-9th Mile road had received approval for a new flyover.
He said the 39.7-kilometre Port Harcourt road project had been fully completed.

The Minister further cited what he described as improvements in the economy, including declining inflation and greater stability in the education sector.
“For the first time, students never went on strike. Never. Look at the stability of the nation. Never happened in the history of this country,” he said.

On the cost of living, Umahi noted that the price of a 50kg bag of rice had risen above N80,000 in 2023 but maintained that the worst of the economic difficulties was over.

He also defended President Tinubu against criticisms over failures in some sectors, saying the President had delegated responsibilities to his appointees.

“The President has divided himself into a number of his appointees. Blame us and not the President when things are not going well. That is leadership,” he said.
Umahi also dismissed criticisms of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the project would be completed.
“I don’t know why people are attacking the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. That project will be done,” he said.

The Minister announced that his ministry would collaborate with NANS to monitor federal road projects across the country.
He said the ministry would support NANS with funding to visit project sites and assess ongoing works, describing the initiative as evidence that the government had nothing to hide.

Umahi also approved support for student mobilisation for a proposed national town hall meeting aimed at discussing and defending the administration’s programmes.

“If you love the planet, you are right that you put the monitors of federal projects. And it shows that we are hiding nothing,” he said.
He ended his remarks with a direct appeal to Nigerians to support President Tinubu.
“Vote for president! Vote for president! Vote for president! Let him finish. Let him take back our country. Let him reposition our country.”

NANS Commends Umahi
Earlier, the NANS National President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, commended Umahi for what he described as visionary leadership and significant contributions to road infrastructure development across Nigeria.

Akinteye said the visit was not merely a courtesy call but an opportunity to recognise the Minister’s contribution to national development.

“We are here today, not merely to pay a courtesy call, but to recognise your work, visionary leadership, commitment to national development, invaluable contributions, and immeasurable service to the Nigerian people,” he said.

He noted that infrastructure has a direct impact on students, explaining that poor roads increase transportation costs, cause students to arrive late for examinations and restrict access to educational and employment opportunities.
“For students, infrastructure is not an abstract concept. A bad road can mean arriving late for examination. A bad road can increase the cost of your transportation to school,” Akinteye said.
He added that an efficient road network could connect students to educational institutions, internships, businesses, jobs and the wider economy.

The NANS President listed several major projects under Umahi’s supervision, including the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and the 3,000-kilometre coastal corridor.

He particularly highlighted the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Lagos-Sokoto Road as landmark projects capable of improving connectivity and stimulating economic activities across the country.

Akinteye also praised Umahi’s record as governor of Ebonyi State, where he said the Minister pioneered the use of concrete pavement technology for road construction.

Umahi Tells NANS

“As Governor, you pioneered the use of concrete road construction in Nigeria. That record of innovation, delivery, and foresight undoubtedly gained the confidence of the President and Commander-in-Chief. You have undoubtedly justified that confidence,” he said.
According to him, the scale of projects completed and ongoing between May 2023 and May 2026 under Umahi’s leadership deserved wider public attention.

He said Nigerian students had a responsibility to help communicate the impact of infrastructure projects to citizens.

As part of the proposed collaboration, Akinteye said NANS would work with the Ministry of Works to document and monitor federal projects through a nationwide project tour.

He also appealed to the Ministry to support the student movement with mobility, noting that NANS remains one of the largest youth-driven organisations in the country and requires adequate transportation to coordinate its activities effectively.
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