Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu is wrestling with sleepless nights as he grapples with the challenges posed by the inherited bad economy.
The revelation came during Umahi’s inspection of a project in Aba on Saturday, as reported by Vanguard.
Expressing concern over the economic hurdles faced by President Tinubu, Umahi stated, “President Tinubu is having nightmares on how to deal with the barrage of problems created by the bad economy.”
Meanwhile, the minister took a decisive stance on traders causing disruptions on the completed section of the Aba axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, currently undergoing total reconstruction.
Umahi ordered the immediate arrest of these traders, denouncing their actions as economic sabotage.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the traders’ activities, he regretted that some citizens were exacerbating the situation while the President worked to address the nation’s challenges.
Umahi, visibly angered, directed his motorcade’s security operatives to apprehend the erring traders, emphasizing that they would face prosecution for their actions.
He urged the Abia State Government to establish a task force to address the issue of street traders in Aba, stating, “It appears the people here like to inflict injuries on themselves. They can’t even allow the contractor to work.”
The Minister called for citizens to support the President in tackling the inherited economic problems, emphasizing the need for both leadership and citizens to contribute to resolving the issues.
While commending the work done by the Arab Contractors handling the project, Umahi attributed delays to the high cost of construction materials and advocated for the use of more cost-effective and durable cement technology.
He highlighted the economic challenges faced by the country, noting the drastic increase in the cost of bitumen and proposing the use of locally sourced concrete as a viable alternative.
Federal Controller of Works in Abia, Tony Onwubiko, provided details on the project, covering about 57km from Abia Tower in Umuahia to the Railway Crossing at Alaoji in Osisioma Local Government Area.
Umahi, during a previous visit in November 2023, had assured that one lane of the dual carriage highway would be made available from Aba to the Port Harcourt boundary, and Vanguard reports a significant improvement on the highway since then.
