Oshiomhole Accuses Umahi of Bias in Road Projects, Demands Repairs Before New Construction

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of alleged bias in the allocation of funds for federal road projects, insisting that the government should prioritise the rehabilitation of deteriorating highways before embarking on new construction.

Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, made the allegations during a podcast interview shared on social media, revisiting his disagreement with Umahi over the management of federal road infrastructure and budgetary priorities.

The former Edo State governor said his criticism of the minister during a Senate budget-defence session was part of his responsibility to scrutinise government spending and ensure that public funds address the most pressing infrastructure needs.

According to Oshiomhole, several existing federal roads across the country have deteriorated to the point where motorists and commuters struggle to use them, yet the Ministry of Works continues to pursue new projects.

He argued that the government should concentrate available resources on rehabilitating roads that have become severely damaged instead of expanding the project portfolio while critical routes remain in poor condition.

“As a manager, you do not keep on building new houses when you cannot maintain the houses you already have. It is common sense,” Oshiomhole said.

The senator maintained that his intervention was not politically motivated, despite both men belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also criticised what he described as Umahi’s tendency to invoke President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name when responding to questions about the ministry’s decisions.

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Oshiomhole argued that the responsibility for identifying road maintenance priorities, assessing infrastructure conditions and proposing appropriate budgetary allocations rests with the minister rather than the President having to intervene in individual projects.

“Ministers should not drop his name to cover up their own mess,” he said.

The lawmaker further questioned the proposal to submit additional road projects to the Federal Executive Council when existing highways still require urgent attention. He called for greater coordination between the Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), which is responsible for maintaining federal roads.

Oshiomhole urged the minister to use reports from federal directors of works across the country’s geopolitical zones to identify the most urgent rehabilitation needs and guide spending decisions.

The senator’s latest comments follow his July 2026 criticism of the minister over the condition of major highways linking Edo and Delta states.

During a Senate plenary session, Oshiomhole complained about the condition of routes connecting Benin City with Warri, Asaba, Auchi and Okene, arguing that motorists continued to face serious difficulties despite the approval of new road projects elsewhere.

He alleged that critical sections of roads in the two states had been left out of federal budgetary allocations over several years and urged the Senate leadership to press the minister for a more balanced approach to infrastructure development.

Oshiomhole also said presidential intervention through tax credits had helped address parts of the affected road network.

The disagreement between the two APC figures had previously surfaced during a Senate budget-defence session in February 2026, when lawmakers questioned Umahi about the funding and implementation of major federal highway projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

During that exchange, Oshiomhole raised concerns about transparency in road funding and delays in releasing money for projects. Umahi, in turn, complained about the manner in which the senator questioned him, leading to a heated exchange before the session continued.

Umahi has also faced criticism over claims that federal road projects are concentrated in the South-East. In September, however, the minister rejected allegations of regional favouritism, insisting that projects were being implemented across the country in line with approvals granted by President Tinubu.

At an October 7 press conference, the Ministry of Works outlined progress on major federal highway projects and other road interventions, including work on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Trans-Saharan Highway corridor.

The ministry has also acknowledged challenges involving funding, contractors and project delivery. In June, Umahi warned contractors handling federal road projects against delays and said funding constraints had forced adjustments to the scope of some highway works.

Oshiomhole’s criticism has renewed debate over how the Federal Government should balance the construction of new highways with the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing roads.

While the senator is calling for greater attention to deteriorating routes, the minister’s position is that the government’s infrastructure programme covers strategic projects across multiple regions.

The key questions remain how road projects are prioritised, how available funds are distributed and how the government can ensure that existing highways receive timely repairs while major new infrastructure investments continue.

Oshiomhole has called on the Senate to strengthen its oversight of the Ministry of Works and ensure that road spending reflects the needs of communities and motorists across the country.