UMAHI MOURNS HRH EZE FRANCIS IGWE, DESCRIBES HIS DEATH AS SHOCKING The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of HRH Eze Francis Igwe, the revered traditional ruler and father of the former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Barr. Kelechi Igwe. HRH Eze Francis Igwe reportedly died in captivity after being abducted a few days ago, an incident that has sent shockwaves across Ebonyi State and beyond. Reacting to the sad development, Senator Umahi described the news as shocking and heartbreaking. “This is shocking, very sad and still feels like a dream. It is painful to imagine that such a respected elder and traditional ruler could meet such a tragic end,”. Senator Umahi noted that the late monarch was widely respected for his wisdom, calm disposition, and dedication to the peace and development of his community. He said the death of the traditional ruler is not only a painful loss to his immediate family but also to the traditional institution and the entire Ebonyi State. The Minister particularly expressed deep sympathy to Barr. Kelechi Igwe, who served as his Deputy Governor during his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State, noting that the loss of a father under such painful circumstances is difficult to bear. “I deeply feel the pain of my brother and former Deputy Governor, Barr. Kelechi Igwe, and the entire Igwe family at this moment. Losing a father is always painful, but the nature of this tragedy makes it even more heartbreaking. My prayers and thoughts are with the family,” he said. While commending security agencies for the swift arrest of those allegedly involved in the dastardly act, Senator Umahi expressed hope that justice will be fully served to bring some measure of closure to the grieving family and deter such crimes in society. He prayed for God to grant the soul of the late monarch eternal rest and give the family, his community, and all who mourn him the strength to bear the painful loss. “May God console the family and grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. May the soul of HRH Eze Francis Igwe rest in perfect peace,” the Minister added. Francis Nwaze, FIPMD Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media) March 6, 2026 ...

UMAHI BAGS SILVERBIRD EXTRAORDINARY PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD, CALLS IT ANOTHER FEATHER TO KEEP FLYING  The Honourable Minister of Works, HE Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has bagged the Silverbird Group Extraordinary Personality of the Year award, an honour conferred on him on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos. The award ceremony, organised by Silverbird Group, brought together top government officials, lawmakers, technocrats, and stakeholders from across the country, all drawn by a shared recognition of a minister whose tenure has come to symbolise scale, speed, and ambition in Nigeria’s infrastructure drive. Speaking at the event on behalf of the Minister of Works, the Minister of State (Works), Barr.  Bello Muhammad Goronyo, described the honour as a deserved recognition of visible performance and hard choices taken in the national interest. “We cannot but register our sincere gratitude and appreciation for this award for identifying our own, the Honourable Minister of Works, HE Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, for the works he has been doing in this country.” Goronyo told the audience that Umahi’s impact since assuming office has been defined by experience-driven leadership and the deployment of innovative construction technologies to solve long-standing infrastructure challenges. “This man brought to bear lots of experience, skills, and innovative technologies in the road construction industry.” He pointed to landmark achievements in road construction, anchored on four legacy projects now reshaping national connectivity. These include the 750km Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the 1,068km Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, the Transhara corridor stretching from Calabar through Ebonyi and Benue to Abuja, and the 420km Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Borno corridor. According to him, these projects, alongside accelerated roads and bridges construction across the six geopolitical zones, have redefined expectations of what is possible within a single administration. Goronyo was emphatic that these gains did not occur in isolation, attributing the momentum to the infrastructure-first posture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “We have to say that all these achievements are recorded because of our president, HE Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.” In a symbolic gesture that drew applause, he disclosed that the Minister of Works had directed that the award be dedicated to the President and to the collective effort behind the projects. “The minister has mandated me to dedicate the award to HE Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for the support, for all he has been doing, for prioritizing infrastructure as key, and to dedicate the award also to our team, the Ministry of Works, the management as well as the contractors.” He added that within the Ministry, the recognition serves as renewed motivation rather than a moment of rest. “For us in the Ministry of Works, it's another feather for us to continue to fly and work hard so that Nigeria will reach the desires and aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” On its part, Silverbird Group noted that since Umahi took charge as Minister of Works, the Ministry is currently managing 2,065 ongoing projects across the country. The organisers observed that his mission has remained clear and consistent: fix existing roads, build new ones, and ensure they stand the test of time. According to them, the scale and intent of the legacy projects alone speak volumes about his leadership.   ...

WORKS MINISTRY DID NOT AWARD ABUJA–KADUNA ROAD CONTRACT TO MIKANO – UMAHI CLARIFIES The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. Sen. David Nweze Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has clarified that the Federal Ministry of Works did not award the Abuja–Kaduna Road contract to Mikano International Limited. The Minister stated that the contract was awarded to Infiouest International Limited, in line with due procurement processes and transparency standards. The Minister made this clarification while briefing journalist on 12 Febuary, 2026 in the Ministry Confrence Room in Mabushi Abuja, also drawing public attention to the increasing rate of vandalisation of critical road infrastructure across the country. He noted that the Ministry has a responsibility to provide accurate information to the public and to protect national infrastructure from destruction. Engr. Umahi expressed serious concern over widespread vandalism affecting roads, bridges, and related infrastructure nationwide. He cited recent cases along the Lagos Coastal Road corridor, where protective structures and road components have been deliberately damaged. According to the Minister, flooding recorded in some sections of the coastal highway was largely caused by blockage of underground drainage channels with refuse, emphasizing the need for public cooperation in maintaining infrastructure. He commended the Lagos State Government, security agencies, and the Nigeria Police for deploying personnel to safeguard critical infrastructure and combat vandalism. Parking of heavy trucks on bridges creates structural stress, as bridges are not designed for static heavy loads. He disclosed that some offenders have already been arrested and are being prosecuted. The Minister highlighted the Federal Government’s adoption of reinforced concrete road technology, which is expected to last between 50 and 100 years, compared to traditional asphalt roads. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for supporting long-term infrastructure development and for approving several strategic road projects nationwide. The Minister announced the Extension of the Bodo–Bonny Road by 8.7km to link the East–West Road, using concrete pavement technology. He added that Progress on major legacy road corridors including routes connecting Akwanga – Jos – Bauchi – Gombe – Maiduguri. Expansion of CCTV surveillance on major bridges and highways to curb vandalism and enhance monitoring. The Minister emphasized that federal road projects are distributed based on national development priorities, not regional considerations. He called on Nigerians to support national unity and protect public assets. The Federal Government is considering stronger policies and collaboration with private sector partners and state governments to improve road maintenance and enforce compliance against illegal road obstructions and structures. Addressing the status of NNPCL-funded road projects initiated under Executive Order 007 (April–May 2023), the Minister clarified that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will no longer directly pay contractors for these projects. He announced that the Federal Ministry of Works has officially taken over both project supervision and payment responsibilities, in line with new federal directives. The Honorable Minister disclosed that ₦127 billion has been released by Mr. President for the continuation of these projects, underscoring the administration’s commitment to completing inherited infrastructure initiatives. He noted that an estimated ₦7 trillion will be required to complete all NNPCL-funded projects, describing them as critical to national connectivity and economic development. Sen. Umahi further revealed that the Federal Government inherited 6,604 ongoing federal road and bridge projects nationwide, with a projected ₦16.9 trillion required for their completion. He reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that all inherited projects must be completed, stressing that infrastructure development remains a top priority of the administration. The Honourable Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the execution of these projects, assuring Nigerians that the government is determined to deliver quality infrastructure that meets international standards. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, In his closing remarks, thanked members of the press for their continued partnership and commitment to national development. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and urged the public and media to verify facts and provide constructive feedback to support improved service delivery.   ...