Roads, Regions & Reality: Umahi Fires Back at Kwankwaso Over Claims of Northern Neglect

In a bold rebuttal to former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has strongly dismissed claims that the Tinubu administration is marginalizing the North in its road infrastructure agenda.

Kwankwaso had recently alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is concentrating road development efforts in the South, leaving the North behind. But Umahi, in a detailed response issued this week, described the claims as “absolutely false, misleading, and self-serving.”

“President Tinubu is committed to developing every part of the country with fairness, equity, and the fear of God,” Umahi emphasized.

Setting the Record Straight

Umahi did not hold back, accusing Kwankwaso of attempting to mislead the Northern populace for political gain. He suggested that the former governor’s remarks were part of a larger effort to create division and position himself as the torchbearer of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy.

“Trying to be like our late President Buhari cannot be done with deceit,” Umahi said. “It must be through hard work, honesty, and commitment to national unity.”

Inside the Numbers: North vs. South

The Works Minister provided a breakdown of the Tinubu administration’s road development portfolio across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones — and the figures paint a very different picture from Kwankwaso’s narrative.

The Four Legacy Projects Under Tinubu:

• Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (South): 175 km currently under construction.

• Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway (North): 378 km ongoing.

• Trans-Sahara Road (South-Central): 118 km in progress.

• Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road (North): Under redesign for more durable pavement.

Key Statistic: Of the kilometers currently under construction, 52% are in the North and 48% in the South.

Umahi pointed out that while the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway gets most of the media attention, it represents only a fraction of what is ongoing across Nigeria.

“Kebbi alone has 316 km ongoing. Sokoto has 240 km. That’s more than what is currently happening in the southern corridors of the coastal project,” he stated.

Major Ongoing Projects in the North

The North is seeing extensive activity under the Tinubu administration, including:

• Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina–Kaduna Road (275 km dualized): ₦824 billion.

• Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Highway (350 km dualized): ₦764 billion.

• BUA Tax Credit Roads in Jigawa, Katsina, Kano (256 km): Rigid pavement upgrade.

• Borno Ring Road (110 km), Kano Northern Bypass, and Zaria–Hunkuyi Roads also ongoing.

Umahi also noted that many of these roads are being built on rigid concrete pavement, a more durable and expensive alternative to the flexible type.

Major Southern Projects Also Underway

While defending the administration’s balance, Umahi highlighted notable projects in the South:

• Lagos–Ibadan Expressway (8.5 km): ₦33 billion.

• Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin Corridor: ₦146 billion.

• Enugu–Onitsha Road (107 km): ₦202 billion via MTN Tax Credit.

• East-West Road Sections, Bodo–Bonny in Rivers (35 km with 12 bridges): ₦200 billion.

• 2nd Niger Bridge Access Roads (Anambra & Delta): ₦175B & ₦146B respectively.

Inherited Projects Being Completed

Umahi also addressed concerns over the origin of these projects, revealing that over 80% of ongoing projects were inherited from the Buhari administration, many of which had not seen significant progress until Tinubu assumed office.

Rather than abandon these, Umahi said, President Tinubu made the “strategic and selfless” decision to continue funding and executing them, ensuring nationwide continuity.

Southwest Bridge Woes and National Corridors

Turning attention to the Southwest, Umahi flagged urgent repairs needed on Lagos’s major bridges, including the Third Mainland, Carter, and Eko bridges.

“If left to deteriorate, their collapse could cripple economic activities,” Umahi warned, stressing that these bridges are lifelines between the South and North and must be prioritized as national economic corridors.

Calls for Unity, Not Division

In conclusion, the Minister called on Nigerians to reject divisive rhetoric and focus on the broader picture of national development.

“Mr. President is fair in distributing infrastructure projects across the country, irrespective of zone or politics,” Umahi maintained.

He also noted that in the ongoing NNPCL Tax Credit scheme, the North commands 53% of the projects, while the South has 47% — with the South-East receiving only 4% and the South-West 5%.

A Challenge and a Plea

Umahi didn’t mince words in calling on Senator Kwankwaso to retract his statement and apologize to President Tinubu.

“You owe the President an apology,” he said. “The facts are here for all to see.”

He promised to publish a detailed list of all projects worth over ₦20 billion across the country next week, to further underscore the administration’s equitable distribution.