Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued stern warnings to contractors handling failed federal roads in Edo State, threatening to revoke contracts of those who fail to return to site.

Umahi also vowed to redeploy heads of the ministry in states where palliative works are neglected, stressing the need to ease the movement of motorists.

He gave the warning during an inspection tour of federal roads in Edo Central and Edo South Senatorial Districts, accompanied by Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The team visited Ujuelen, the Ekpoma stretch of the Benin–Auchi–Lokoja Expressway, Egbele in Uromi, sections of the Benin–Asaba Expressway under reconstruction, and the Ewu–Agbor road.

During the visit, Umahi urged the governor to intensify support for road users and officially handed over the completion of one carriageway from Ewu to Agbor to the Edo State Government. He explained that while the Federal Ministry of Works would provide the design, the state government would handle execution.

The minister emphasized that contractors have a moral responsibility to assist with remedial work on the nation’s highways.

According to him, “You have to hold me responsible for the heavy traffic on the highway because the President has given every assistance to ensure that this road, all the way from Warri down to Abuja, is in very good condition. The President has directed that none of this project should not stop. So, if you see any of them stopping, it is our responsibility. And we owe the public very serious apologies.

“I’ve been announcing that the President has directed that all contractors be back on site. He has saved money to pay them. I’m directing them to get back to the site. I’m commending them because they have not been paid even a kobo in terms of mobilization. So, I commend them for starting. When I terminate the job, you can go and demarket me. You can go and say all kinds of nonsense about me. But my conscience is before God. I work for God. I work for the President. And so, I’m very courageous to do the right thing. And this is very important. And when you are doing the right thing, no matter the attack you have, God will always be with you.

“One of the greatest problems we have is that we have about six companies. They have more than 25 jobs each. And these were inherited jobs from the past administration. So, they don’t have the personnel. They don’t have the equipment to man those jobs. So, they go into economic politics. And say, Oh, there is rain. Oh, there is compensation. But I’m poised to address such politics. People are suffering.

“The President is committed to righting the wrongs of the past. When we came on board and I challenged anybody, tell me any state outside what the governors are doing that has a hundred kilometres of road that you can pass without a challenge.”

Governor Okpebholo, on his part, thanked President Tinubu for prioritizing Edo roads.

He described the APC as a progressive party delivering tangible results, assuring that Edo’s promise of bloc vote for the president in 2027 is non-negotiable.

“What our administration is doing is visible to everyone. In the past, the State Government put up signs saying ‘please bear with us. This is a federal road.’ But Edo people use these roads, and we cannot abandon them. President Tinubu has changed the narrative, and our people are grateful. The by-election results have shown that Edo people have rejected the PDP and embraced APC,” the governor said. (The Nation)

Update news