ABUJA — Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has dismissed concerns over the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, describing the debate as unnecessary and urging Nigerians to judge the government based on its performance rather than religion.
Umahi spoke in Abuja on Monday while receiving members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who paid him a courtesy visit.
His comments followed the controversy generated by remarks from Jos-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, and responses from Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Youths, Solomon Dalung, and others.
The minister said religion should not be used as a basis for assessing the performance of elected leaders, stressing that Nigerians should focus on what the government is doing.
“What has religion got to do with performance? If we agree that we are brothers and sisters, forget about your religion. Because nobody intentionally chose a religion. It is based on worshipping God. And we are all created by the same God,” Umahi said.
He added, “But when people don’t know what to talk, they begin to talk about mundane things. They begin to become sentimental.”
Umahi urged Nigerian students to take an active interest in national affairs and support what he described as the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“This is the time to take sides in our national affairs… If you say I’m black and brown, you have to define it. If you say somebody, something is white, as white as what?” he said.
The minister also challenged students to counter what he described as false narratives about the administration, particularly those circulated on social media.
Defending the performance of the Tinubu administration, Umahi highlighted several road projects being executed across the country.
He cited the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Superhighway, which he said covers 375 kilometres in each direction, adding that more than $200 million had been spent on the project, with over 80 per cent of the contract sum paid.
“We are believing that by November, the entire stretch will have been completed,” he said.
Umahi also listed the 350-kilometre Sokoto-Zamfara road, valued at about $800 million and currently being constructed with reinforced concrete pavement.
According to him, the Benue-9th Mile road, covering 260 kilometres and valued at $959 million, is also receiving attention, including the construction of a new flyover.
He said the additional flyover was approved because “people would die if we didn’t do it.”
The minister further disclosed that the 39.7-kilometre Port Harcourt road, valued at $280 million, had been completed.
Turning to the education sector, Umahi said the Tinubu administration had achieved stability in tertiary institutions, noting that students had not embarked on a nationwide strike since the administration came into office.
“For the first time, students never went on strike. Never. Look at the stability of the nation. Never happened in the history of this country,” he said.
On the economy, Umahi claimed that inflation was declining, citing the price of a 50kg bag of rice as an example.
He said the commodity, which he claimed sold for more than N80,000 in 2023, now costs about N55,000, adding that “the worst is over.”
The minister also defended President Tinubu against criticism over poor performance in any sector, arguing that the President had delegated responsibilities to ministers and other appointees.
“The President has divided himself into a number of his appointees — blame us and not the President when things are not going well. That is leadership,” Umahi said.
Earlier, NANS President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, commended the Minister of Works for what he described as visionary leadership and significant progress in road infrastructure development across the country.
Akinteye said the students’ visit was aimed at recognising Umahi’s contributions to national development and his impact on infrastructure.
“We are here today, not merely to pay a courtesy call, but to recognize your work, visionary leadership, commitment to national development, invaluable contributions, and immeasurable service to the Nigerian people,” he said.
He noted that road infrastructure had a direct impact on students, explaining that poor roads could affect their ability to arrive at examinations on time and increase transportation costs.
“For students, infrastructure is not an abstract concept. A bad road can mean arriving late for examination. A bad road can increase the cost of your transportation to school,” Akinteye said.
He added that efficient road networks could connect students to educational institutions, internships, businesses, employment opportunities and the wider economy.
Akinteye specifically commended projects under Umahi’s supervision, including the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and the 3,000-kilometre coastal corridor.
He also identified the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Lagos-Sokoto Road as landmark projects which, according to him, would improve connectivity and stimulate economic activity across the country.
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