UMAHI ASSURES OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE REVOLUTION .... Says The Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu Administration Gives Road Sector Top Priority

Works Minister, Sen. Umahi flanked by Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi state and the newly elected Gov, Ahmed Usman Ododo at the Minister's Office, Abuja

"I want to assure you that Mr President has instructed our ministry to start that portion of the road and you will soon see a lot of concrete structures on a number of challenged sections of that road." Umahi.

The Honourable Minister of Works , Sen. Engr Nweze David Umahi has reiterated the

The determination of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in addressing the several issues surrounding ailing road infrastructure across the nation, remains a top priority projects.

This was the assertion by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi on Thursday when he played host to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state who was accompanied on the visit by the newly elected Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

The Minister, during the visit, stated that the President's intervention on the road infrastructure deficit in the country was part of his roadmap towards revamping the economy of the nation.

Umahi, while addressing the Kogi state Executive Governor, thanked him for the will to seek federal government's intervention on the road infrastructure challenges in his State and the passion to work for the good of the State

According the Minister, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna Orji, "We inspected roads in your state from 11am on my first day in office and I got back to Abuja by 2am. It shows the passion you have for the State. It is not by chance that my first working day was in Kogi State and I saw the acceptability and show of true love among the villagers for you."

"Your people are people of gratitude. I remember the ovation that greeted our inspection visit to Murtala Muhammed Way bridge in Kogi State." The Minister stated.

He assured the Governor that the Kogi Federal Highway was part of the Federal roads listed for palliative intervention by Mr President

The Minister also used the opportunity of the visit to thank the governor for his commitment to the ideals of the All Progressives Congress APC, and for his doggedness that saw the party through, in the recently concluded Governorship election in Kogi State, saying the victory was a testimony of the good works of the Governor and the acceptability of the ruling Party by the people of the State.

He praised the Governor for his sense of inclusiveness and nationalism in his affairs as Governor of Kogi State.

"I thank you for being nationalistic. I know a lot of South Easteners that have made your Cabinet. I also know a lot of people that had security challenges; that were kidnapped far away but you helped in rescuing them even across State."

The Minister also used the opportunity to congratulate the Governor-elect, charging him to be magnanimous with victory, cultivate leadership virtues, remember his route and remain steadfast with his Party.

"Every young man entering a very high position like this is open to a lot of temptations. One admonition that guides me which I will share with you today is the fact that anyone who pays evil for the good done onto him, evil will not depart from his house.

"The teeth and the tongue often have misunderstanding but they live together. He opined that the Governor made a lot of enemies because of you. Let these enemies reconcile with him through you. All what the Governor looks for from you is not money or position but, for is respect and honour because, to whom God has honoured, man must also honour the person.

"Mr President has suffered all kinds of betrayals and, if you have suffered betrayal you would feel it. And, when Mr President sees a man that is on the path of betraying another, he will not be happy with such a person. If you follow the Governor, he will guide you. If he trusted you to enthrone you, who else will he now trust again. He is a unique man and he is a man to emulate. Umahi admonished.

Earlier, the Kogi State Governor extolled the Hon. Minister for the transformation and innovation he has brought on board to accomplish the Renewed Hope road infrastructure Agenda of Mr President and the extra-ordinary passion with which he follows Mr President's directives on road revolution.

"The very first day you resumed office that was the day you hit the ground running. You have been inspecting roads ever since then and you were not resting. There was no budget, no money for you, yet we see work going on across the country. Contractors have returned back to site. The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is working, you are also responding to calls and messages and you are so responsive. You are a leader that all of us are proud of." Yahaya Bello stated.

The Governor further said "I am here to principally show an appreciation to God Almighty and to show appreciation to my wonderful brother; His Excellency Distinguished Senator David Umahi, the former Governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works for all the assistance he rendered to us physically, spiritually, financially and infact, in every way. I am introducing m successor, Hon. Ahmed Ododo to His Excellency. Ever since I joined the club of Governors, you have been so distinguished. I came in as APC Governor, you were PDP Governor then and, irrespective of our political parties, you proved to be an elder statesman. You are a politician but you are an elder statesman. You are always uniting the Governors across party lines and that was why it was easy for me to predict that you were going to join us because, your mind is progressive; your mind is always progressive that was why you were able to govern Ebonyi State. With the little and meagre resources you turned the State around and Ebonyi is wearing a new look today. You mentor leaders that is why it is not surprising the assistance I received from you in coming up with another leader to take over from me in Kogi State."

"Today, you are in the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a Minister of Works with his Renewed Hope Agenda. Therefore, we are saying a very big thank you to you and may the good Lord protect you in the discharge of your responsibility as the Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." He prayed.