Minister of Works David Umahi has vowed to resign if the ongoing Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road project is found to be substandard, pledging to subject the work to independent testing.
Umahi made the declaration while defending his ministry’s ₦3.4 trillion budget proposal before a joint session of the National Assembly.
Lawmakers had raised concerns over the award of a section of the project to a company described as relatively unknown and previously linked to generator sales, with Former Senator Adams Oshiomhole questioning the contractor’s credibility.
Responding, Umahi dismissed the criticism, insisting that quality of work, not company background should be the focus and then challenged lawmakers to conduct concrete tests on the project.
“If you test it and it fails, I will throw in the towel,” he said, expressing confidence in the standard of work delivered on the Abuja–Kaduna stretch.
The minister also criticised the funding structure for capital projects, describing the Finance Ministry’s cash plan as hindering effective project execution, noting that over 95 per cent of works projects are ongoing.
The session was marked by heated exchanges, including a shouting match involving Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, before order was eventually restored.
