Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has issued a public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians over the embarrassing traffic disruption caused by flooding along the Lafia-Makurdi highway during the President’s visit to Benue State on June 18.
Speaking through his media aide, Uchenna Orji, on Friday in Abuja, Umahi expressed disappointment over what he described as the “negligence” of China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company, the concessionaire handling the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road under the federal government’s Highways Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).
The minister said the flooding incident, which left part of the President’s convoy stranded, was due to debris blocking an existing culvert along the route. “This road is already tolled and should have been maintained adequately by the concessionaire. We view this lapse very seriously,” he said.
Umahi confirmed that emergency teams from the Ministry of Works and China Harbour were immediately deployed to the scene and worked under heavy rain to remove the debris and restore the road. He, however, stressed the need for a permanent solution, directing the company to conduct a full assessment and implement preventive measures to avoid future occurrences.
“We apologise very profusely to Mr. President and the good people of Nigeria for the embarrassment this unfortunate incident caused,” he said, assuring that accountability will be enforced.
The minister also praised President Tinubu for his impactful visit to Benue State despite the disruption, noting that the visit had a lasting effect on the communities affected by recent violence and natural disasters.
Meanwhile, during a courtesy call by the Managing Director of Citibank Nigeria Ltd., Ms. Nneka Enwereji, Umahi outlined the government’s push for infrastructure reform and international investment in road development. Enwereji, in response, pledged Citibank’s readiness to collaborate on funding strategic legacy projects to boost Nigeria’s road infrastructure and economic development.
