The Minister of Works, David Umahi, says he believes that President Bola Tinubu’s assumption of office was a divine intervention that averted Nigeria’s potential downward spiral into chaos.
News About Nigeria reports that the Minister addressed the gathering on Saturday during the official unveiling of the federal government’s “Operation Free Our Roads” initiative in Abuja.
The former governor of Ebonyi state revealed that few individuals had a grasp of the severity of Nigeria’s challenges prior to President Tinubu’s assumption of power.
The minister urged citizens to shelve their protest plans and grant the president additional time to execute his vision, adding that the president’s infrastructure initiatives, if given a chance to succeed, would bring about transformative change to the country.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our youths to give Mr President Bola Tinubu more time,” Umahi said.
“It would have been a failed state if God did not divinely bring the President at a very critical time like this.
“A lot of people did not know what challenges we had before he came on board.”
Umahi called for patriotic support to reform the country, adding that unrest could be exploited by criminals.
“Yes, there may be hardship, but the dawn is the darkest part of the night; we see a lot of hope and positive indices,” the minister said.
“So, let us give him more time and support him and increase our productivity, our country will be great again.”
Umahi said the “operation free our roads” will prioritise citizen comfort, adding that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA)’s cooperation is crucial for successful road rehabilitation.
The former governor announced that contractors will fill all potholes on failed road portions using stone base.
They will maintain one carriageway for vehicles while working on the other.
Umahi emphasised the need for vigilance from controllers, directors, and engineers.
The “Operation Free Our Roads” initiative involves both the Ministry of Works and FERMA.
The goal is to ensure smooth roads, especially during the rainy season, with contingency plans in place for any challenges.
