The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has declared that the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are beginning to yield tangible results, with strategic investments in road infrastructure driving economic growth, improving security, reducing hunger and reconnecting communities across the country.
Francis Nwaze, the Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister (Media) revealed this in a Statement today Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the Statement, Umahi made the remarks on Tuesday during the flag-off of the reconstruction of the 122-kilometre Kaduna (Mando)–Birnin Gwari Road at the Afaka Mando Arena in Kaduna State.
He described the project as another fulfilled campaign promise by President Tinubu and a critical intervention aimed at strengthening regional connectivity, stimulating commerce and expanding economic opportunities under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the minister, the Federal Government is deploying road infrastructure as a tool to address economic and security challenges while ensuring equitable distribution of development projects across the country.
“We are using road infrastructure to fix the economic problems we met on the ground. We are using road infrastructure to fight insecurity, hunger and the injustices where some states had no federal projects,” Umahi said.
He noted that the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road would significantly shorten travel time between Northern Nigeria and Lagos by providing a direct link through Niger, Kwara, Osun and Oyo states.
“This is the shortest route to Lagos State. It is a very important road that will open up economic opportunities and improve connectivity,” he added.
The minister also highlighted improvements in security along the Abuja–Kaduna corridor, attributing the progress to ongoing road reconstruction.
“I was told that before now it was a bad idea travelling from Abuja to Kaduna because of countless attacks, but it is now a thing of the past since the Abuja–Kaduna road project started,” he said.
Responding to criticisms that the Federal Government was prioritising new roads over existing ones, Umahi said the administration was rehabilitating several major highways across the country, including the Sokoto–Zamfara–Funtua–Zaria Road, Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, Makurdi–9th Mile Road, Bodo–Bonny Road and the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Highway.
He maintained that road infrastructure remains central to national development, describing it as a catalyst for economic growth, agricultural productivity, commerce and education.
“When a road is built, insecurity is minimised, there is an agricultural revolution, commerce increases and education improves,” he said.
Umahi also congratulated Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, following presidential approval for a 50-kilometre intra-city light rail project in Kaduna valued at $868 million.
He urged Nigerians to embrace constructive criticism, saying meaningful feedback helps government improve service delivery.
Representing President Tinubu at the event, Governor Uba Sani reaffirmed the President’s commitment to fulfilling promises made to the people of Birnin Gwari.
The governor recalled that Tinubu visited Birnin Gwari before becoming president despite the area’s security challenges and pledged to reconstruct the road and restore peace.
“The flag-off of this project is proof that President Tinubu keeps his promises,” Sani said.
He further commended the President’s commitment to Northern Nigeria, arguing that no previous administration had matched the current government’s level of investment in the region.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done a lot for us here in Northern Nigeria. We thank him for his love for the North, for humanity and for progress,” the governor said.
The Emir of Birnin Gwari, Alhaji (Dr.) Zubairu Jibril Maigwari II, also praised the Federal Government and the governors of affected states for improvements in security, noting that many farmers had returned to their farmlands after years of displacement caused by insecurity.
