Umahi Committed to Delivering Concrete Road Network, Says Aide

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has vowed to remain resolute and committed to delivering his agenda of transforming Nigerian roads with concrete technology.

Umahi, who was quoted to have expressed this commitment in a statement by his media aide, Uchenna Orji, said he was undeterred by the current campaign of calumny and blackmail against his decision to adopt sweeping revolutionary policies to transform road construction across the country.

Addressing a viral video released by an irate woman who alleged that Umahi has been owing her for services rendered to him and his family nine years ago, he stated: “The allegations contained in the  trending  video of a purportedly distressed woman linking Umahi with a nine- year old debt is absolutely preposterous and nothing but a malicious propaganda of desperados who have vowed to stop at nothing in pulling him down for his uncompromising stand in reversing the ugly trends of  road construction across the nation  and thus abate the alarming sufferings  of Nigerians on our road infrastructure.”

Orji explained: “For the records, the Hon. Minister of Works never had any transaction or business with such a lady either as a Governor for eight  years or as a deputy governor for  four  years or at any time in the life of the business endeavours of the Hon. Minister of Works and doesn’t not know the said woman.

“There was no communication or complaint or proceedings or even pre- action notice against the Hon. Minister in his previous capacities by the said woman, either directly to him or through the Police or Civil Society or through social media or  by any court, all these years until now that the Hon. Minister is sounding strong on his  wake-up call for contractors to give Nigerians the  best standard of road construction in line with the best practices as seen in advanced countries of the world.”

According to him, the minister and his team are very much aware that falsehood, blackmail, sabotage and incitement are the next line of action of these enemies of the progress of Nigeria, and they are battle ready to defend the cause of nationhood.

Orji  added  that the trumped up allegations in that video and scenarios created  “are  perfect examples of the  punky thoughts  of  detractors which resonate deeply in the recent threats of blackmail and  incitements by those who, for their pecuniary attachments, are opposing  the introduction of the  progressive policies in the Federal Ministry of Works, including  concrete technology of 50 years guarantee, use of local raw materials and mobilization of our engineering labour force to the construction and designs of our   road infrastructure.”

He stressed that to paint unfounded picture of “non-existing contract for  the supply of non-existing election promotion materials is absolutely and  irresponsibly ridiculous and  cannot in anyway discourage the zeal or diminish the passion of the Hon. Minister of Works in giving the road users the desired value  for the huge  investment on road infrastructure.”

Orji   enjoined the public to discountenance the unfounded allegations of the said woman and view it as part of the plans of the detractors to divert attention and derail the economic-diversifying innovations of the Federal Ministry of Works under  Umahi.