The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, on Thursday said the northern region accounts for more than 60 per cent of the legacy road projects being executed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while the South has about 40 per cent.
Umahi disclosed this during a town hall meeting in Gombe State after inspecting the ongoing superhighway project linking Gombe State to Biu in Borno State.
Speaking on the Federal Government’s infrastructure agenda, the minister said the distribution of projects demonstrates the administration’s commitment to equitable development across the country.
Addressing Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and stakeholders at the meeting, Umahi said, “Governor, you are a very lucky person. The length of this first legacy project from Akwanga down to Maiduguri is the same length as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
“Under the legacy projects of Mr President, I can boldly say as Minister of Works that the North controls 60 per cent of the projects while the South controls 40 per cent. The projects in the North are more, and they are not used by northerners alone, just as the projects in the South are not used by southerners alone. Let us see ourselves as one people.”
The minister stressed that road infrastructure should be viewed as a national asset rather than a regional undertaking, noting that every state in the federation is benefiting from ongoing federal road projects.
“There is no state that will say it does not have a federal presence in terms of road construction,” he added.
Umahi also highlighted the historical significance of some of the ongoing projects, particularly the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.
According to him, the Sokoto–Badagry route was first conceived during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari about five decades ago, while the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway was envisioned by President Tinubu nearly three decades ago.
“The Sokoto–Badagry project was dreamt of by the Shagari administration about 50 years ago and is being actualised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Lagos–Calabar project was dreamt of by him about 28 years ago and is now being actualised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Umahi said.
The minister dismissed threats by critics who have vowed to halt the projects, expressing confidence that the initiatives would be completed.
“Some have boasted that they will stop the legacy projects. I don’t think God will allow it,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya described the highway project as a major milestone for Gombe State and a catalyst for economic growth and regional integration.
He said the project aligns with the Federal Government’s broader development agenda and would complement ongoing efforts aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities for residents.
“This project comes at a very important time in our lives and presents a great opportunity for development,” the governor said.
Yahaya also commended the achievements of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government, arguing that the administration had recorded significant progress over the past seven years.
“Our party has been in government for seven years now, four years under former President Muhammadu Buhari and three years under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I can confidently say that the achievements recorded during these years have surpassed those of previous administrations,” he stated.
The Gombe–Biu superhighway project is one of several strategic road infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Federal Government to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, and enhance economic activities across the country.