By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi has during a courtesy call by the Forum of State Chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria, stated that Mr. President inherited an economy that was in shock, “and then he came, and he put oxygen.”
He made this statement while assuring them of a strategic collaboration in project monitoring and in fostering feedback mechanism in project delivery management.
The event took place at the conference hall of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi, Abuja.
Speaking during the event, the Minister gave an account of the achievements of the President in the works sector across the six geo-political zones, which he said had helped to accelerate economic recovery in line with the eight-point agenda of the Renewed Hope administration.
In a statement signed by Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, disclosed that the Minister praised the progress made by Mr. President in taking Nigeria out of recession.
“There are a lot of improvements in our economy. I’ve always said that Mr. President inherited an economy that was in shock, and then he came, and he put oxygen.
“Today, we have removed the oxygen. And the economy is promising. If you come and look at the fuel subsidy removal, you just ask yourself, if that was not done, where would this country have been? People darken counsel without knowledge. And when you criticize, can you give us an alternative? When people criticize fuel subsidy removal and we came at the time that the ugly effect of the Naira redesign brought a lot of hardship for the people. But with the floating of the Naira, Mr. President has been able to stabilize the economy. When we came on board, we saw the way the Naira and the dollar were. But today, we have a stable Naira.”
He maintained that the policy direction of Mr. President was aimed at stabilizing and strengthening the economy and making Nigeria to be self-sufficient and self-reliant in the world of economic uncertainties.
Umahi commended the President on the huge intervention made on the road infrastructure, he said. “He is a man that understands that the road sector, the bridge sector, the infrastructural sector is the catalyst that grows the GDP of the nation of which every other sector will grow from.”
The Minister particularly thanked the Forum of State APC Chairmen, the National Chairman and the National Working Committee of APC, as well as the Governors in Nigeria for their support to the progresssive economic reforms of the Renewed Hope administration and their confidence in it efficacy, noting that road project delivery policy under Mr. President guarantees active citizenship participation and consensus building.
He urged members of the forum to feel free to task contractors and project managers on quality and accountability.
Earlier in his mission statement on behalf of the Forum of State APC Chairmen, the spokesman in the event and Chairman of APC Cross River State, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, thanked the President for his illuminating stewardship in the works sector which he said would speak for him at the time of his re-election in 2027.
He praised the Minister of Works for an added transformation witnessed in the road sector of the economy.
In his vote of thanks, the Minister of State for Works, Muhammad Bello Goronyo described Senator Umahi as a patriotic professional with deep expertise in the road sector.
He emphasised that Nigeria is fortunate to have a Minister so knowledgeable and committed to nation-building. He also thanked the APC Forum for their warm visit, encouraging party chairmen across the States to continue supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda. “Your presence here is not just a show of solidarity but a testament to our shared commitment to building a stronger infrastructure base for Nigeria
