The Katsina State Forum of Elders (KFE) has accused Minister of Works, David Umahi, of nepotism in revoking the contract for the construction of the Katsina/Dutsinma and Marrarbar Kankara roads.
They also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be cautious of the Minister.
KFE claimed that Umahi’s decision was intended to undermine President Tinubu’s positive reputation in the North. These allegations were made in a statement by KFE spokesperson, Dr. Namanga Danmajiya, shared with journalists in Kano on Tuesday.
Dr. Danmajiya stated that the road contract, awarded by President Tinubu’s administration in April 2024, was highly valued by the people of Katsina. “The award of the contract by President Tinubu greatly increased his popularity and support among the citizens of Katsina, who were thrilled because it would facilitate the transportation of goods across the Federation.”
He further noted that after the contract was awarded, a Special Monitoring and Supervision Committee was formed by the people of Katsina to oversee the project. They praised the contractor for the quality of work being done.
The Elders emphasized that their intention was not to attack Umahi personally but claimed that his actions suggested nepotism. KFE alleged that Umahi was preserving the contract for his associates, with some information indicating that one of the contracting companies had Umahi’s son as a director.
KFE urged President Tinubu to intervene quickly to prevent the revocation from damaging his support in the North. They reminded him that the road project, which extends to Niger Republic, would facilitate the movement of goods across borders, ultimately benefiting Nigeria the most.
“We alert President Tinubu that the people’s interests are being manipulated with the revocation of this contract. We believe this is not the President’s personal decision, as he is known to be a nationalist who seeks the good of all regions. We urge him to take action by allowing the contract and contractor to continue their work,” the statement concluded.
