A group of contractors within the Ministry of Works has raised concerns about the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, accusing him of obstructing the progress of projects by not following the approvals granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
They believe Umahi’s actions are undermining President Bola Tinubu’s “renewed hope agenda.”
The contractors allege that Umahi intends to tamper with contracts awarded by FEC, potentially re-awarding some to himself or his close associates.
They claim that the minister is deliberately delaying work progress by not processing files and sidelining experienced civil servants with institutional knowledge.
The contractors have called on the President to redeploy Umahi, claiming that his short tenure as minister has significantly hindered the ministry’s operations. They accuse Umahi of having approximately 80 different companies, some of which he may use to execute projects if his plans to manipulate contracts are successful.
According to the contractors, Umahi has stated that he won’t consult either the FEC or the Bureau of Public Procurement in his review of contracts. They assert that contracts duly approved by FEC should not be tampered with.
The contractors believe Umahi is running the ministry as if it were his personal business and criticize his frequent visits to states, where he appears to be inspecting federal roads without being adequately briefed on their conditions.
They also accuse Umahi of planning to appoint special assistants for each state, potentially allowing him to exert control over those who would carry out his directives, further undermining the ministry.
The contractors are calling for Umahi’s redeployment and the appointment of a minister with a strong track record to align with the administration’s goals. They cite the successful records of individuals like Fashola and Wike in their respective states as examples to follow.
