Abuja: Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed a sweeping anti-corruption review of federal road projects, underscoring his commitment to transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s infrastructure delivery. The probe aims to ensure that contracts are executed to standard, funds are properly utilised, and systemic leakages are eliminated.
Umahi announced this Wednesday in Abuja after receiving the Al-Jazeera Newspaper Nigeria ‘Personality of the Year’ award.
He said the ministry invited the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to independently investigate road projects nationwide.
“We wrote to ICPC to investigate all our projects, not on paper, but to physically verify what the President said. “We also contacted EFCC. ICPC finished their review. We let them check procurement. They started work. No interference. Work. Nobody is interfering.
“I am told EFCC will begin after Sallah. We are not hiding anything because we care about the people.
“Such disruptions prevent movement, which is what the President is addressing. He said the ministry’s costing system provides detailed breakdowns of materials and construction for each project.
“For any project cost, we can break it down—cement, sand, chippings, equipment—everything is accounted for,” he said.
Umahi said switching from asphalt to concrete roads, though initially resisted, serves the public. serves t“We fought for concrete roads because they last longer and benefit Nigerians,” he said. He said poor roads restrict movement and economic activity nationwide. “That is what we are trying to change,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the media outlet, Williams Bassey, said the award followed rigorous evaluation. Bassey said the committee unanimously chose Umahi as 2025 Personality of the Year for Infrastructure Transformation.
He described Umahi as a public servant driving significant infrastructure improvements under President Bola Tinubu‘s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This honour recognises your strides in infrastructure development and elevating road construction standards naHe added that a thorough investigation of the ministry found no wrongdoing. “In 2024, we used our top investigators here and abroad, and found no corruption,” he said.
