Tinubu Borrows to Build Infrastructure Across Nigeria — Umahi

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is borrowing funds to finance massive infrastructure development projects across Nigeria, valued at about ₦34 trillion.

Umahi made the statement during an inspection of ongoing works on the Abakaliki–Afikpo highway in Ebonyi State, where he defended the administration’s borrowing approach, saying it is necessary to deliver long-lasting road and bridge infrastructure nationwide.

According to him, the administration is handling both inherited and newly initiated “legacy projects” across the country, with the aim of transforming Nigeria’s road network for long-term use.

“We are borrowing because of the things we do on our roads and bridges,” Umahi said, adding that such infrastructure is designed to last for decades.

He explained that once completed, many of the projects would serve Nigerians for up to 100 years without requiring major reconstruction. “The good thing is that when we borrow and invest in infrastructure, we rebuild roads for the next 100 years,” he stated.

Umahi also gave details of ongoing flagship projects under the administration, including sections of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway corridor and other major inter-state road networks spanning the South-East, North-Central, and other regions.

He disclosed that one of the projects, estimated at about ₦454 billion, includes reinforced concrete pavement, solar lighting, and a 123-kilometre stretch of road infrastructure. He also noted that the President has already funded 50 percent of some of these projects.

The Minister further highlighted the scale of the Calabar-to-Abuja corridor project, which spans several states including Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa, describing it as one of the administration’s major legacy undertakings.

According to him, the second section of the project covers about 178 kilometres, valued at approximately ₦685 billion, with plans underway to construct an additional carriageway covering about 295 kilometres.

Umahi also called on Nigerians, particularly people from the South-East, to support the Tinubu administration, arguing that the region is benefiting significantly from ongoing infrastructure investments.

He insisted that political decisions should be guided by strategy rather than sentiment, saying the President has made notable progress in addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges across the country.