The Asiwaju Renewed Mandate, South East (ARMSE) has given support to the Minister for Works, Engr David Umahi for executing the policies of the administration devoid of ethnic bias.

A Singer and Kannywood Comedian, Muhammad Jamil, also known as Jadda Garko, had accused Umahi of neglecting the northern parts of Nigeria in the distribution of the ongoing Renewed Hope Agenda on road projects being executed by the Ministry of Works.

But the ARMSE led by Hon. Adolphous Udeh in response, on Friday, told Garko that he spoke out of sentiment, uninformed position, and mischief in his submission.

ARMSE is also aware that Garko is being sponsored by contractors the Honourable. Minister for Works revoked their contracts earlier in the year for nonperformance and they shamelessly resorted to engaging a singer and entertainment performer to peddle falsehood against The minister.

Udeh noted that the Federal Ministry of Work had released a schedule of its interventions in different parts of the country which when properly examined indicate that the three regions of the north got more roads and bridge projects than their southern counterparts.

“It therefore beggars for explanation on where Alhaji Garko got his misinformation. But the avoidance of doubt, the release from the Ministry of Works which was signed by Garko’s kinsman and the Director of press and Public Relations in the ministry, A. Ahmed, indicates that while the northern part of the country got 52 percent of the roads intervention projects, the south has 48 percent. So where lies Garko’s claim if not for mere mischief?”

Udeh noted that the Minister of Works, Umahi has creditably stepped up project monitoring and supervision mechanisms on these projects spread across the six geo-political zones, and Nigerians can attest to the fact that every zone has its fair share in the distribution of the ongoing projects.

“Facts and figures show that out of a total of 2,735km of the Legacy Projects initiated by the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the North has a cumulative total of 1,414km, while the South has 1,321km amounting to a percentage ratio of 52:48, respectively.

“Furthermore, out of 82 Sukuk-funded ongoing projects, the North has 45 while the South has 37 projects. Out of the 260 emergency projects, 98 are being executed in the South, while 108 are in the North. Additionally, out of the 44 road projects executed under the Road Tax Credit Scheme, 23 are domiciled in the  North, while 21 numbers are in the South,” Udeh said.

To further illustrate the sense of fairness in the treatment of all parts of Nigeria by the Renewed Hope administration, Udeh said that at the last Federal  Executive Council (FEC) meeting of 23rd September 2024 approved the construction of 258 km 3-lane carriageway using continuously reinforced concrete pavement in Kebbi and Sokoto States – part of the 1,000km Sokoto – Badagry Superhighway; the rescoping and downward review of the contract to rehabilitate the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway; the repair of the Gamboru Bridge along Gamboru-Ngala-Kala Balde road in Borno State, among others.

“The Ministry of Works has achieved a considerable milestone in the execution of critical projects in the North such as the construction and expansion of Mararaba – Keffi road (43.65km), the construction of Lafia Bypass both in Nasarawa State and the Dualisation of 9th Mile (Enugu State) –Otukpo – Makurdi  road project (phase ii) in Nasarawa, Benue and Enugu State, the rehabilitation of Abuja – Abaji – Lokoja Road, Abuja – Lokoja Road, Kano – Maiduguri Dual Carriageway, Adamawa – Taraba Single Carriageway, Adamawa – Borno Single Carriageway, Kaduna-Jos Single Carriageway, Zaria-Funtua – Gusau -Sokoto Dual Carriageway and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road.

“The Honourable Minister has not only visited these projects but has also set up a supervision mechanism to ensure quality and speed in the execution of the projects. Garko should please be better informed.”

Udeh vouched that Umahi is committed to applying the tenets of fairness, justice, equity, and good conscience in the distribution and execution of road infrastructure projects as directed by the federal government under President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and asked members of the public to discountenance Garko who he said did not speak for the North, let alone Kannywood.