Oshiomhole accuses Umahi of road fund bias, insists existing repairs come before new projects

Senator Adams Oshiomhole accused Works Minister David Umahi of bias in federal road project funding, insisting repairs to bad existing roads must precede new construction. Speaking in a podcast interview circulating October 11, Oshiomhole recalled challenging Umahi during National Assembly budget defence, stating it's his duty as a lawmaker to question government spending and ensure funds go where most needed.

"As a manager, you don't keep building new houses when you can't maintain the ones you have. It is common sense," Oshiomhole said, adding his position isn't political despite being APC and Tinubu ally. He accused Umahi of hiding behind the President's name instead of addressing issues raised at the hearing.

Oshiomhole urged Umahi to use reports from federal controllers of works across zones to identify bad roads, questioned how contractors obtained jobs, and noted the ministry must take responsibility for contractors it hires. He referenced FERMA's road maintenance role, calling for better coordination between the agency and ministry, and criticized plans to bring more new projects to Federal Executive Council when existing roads nationwide need urgent repair.

With federal roads deteriorating across Nigeria affecting daily commutes and vehicle maintenance, should budget priority focus on fixing current infrastructure or expanding networks - and how would either approach impact your travel costs and route choices?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/11/oshiomhole-tackles-umahi-over-road-projects/