Umahi Closes Highway, Pledges Southeast Support for Tinubu

The Minister of Works, David Nweze Umahi, has announced the temporary closure of sections of the Lagos coastal highway to expedite construction and ensure compliance with rigorous safety standards.

Umahi, who inspected the project during an official visit to Lagos State, disclosed that the measure was necessary to guarantee the road’s integrity before it is opened to the public.

“This closure is a deliberate and necessary measure to ensure the highway meets the requisite safety standards,” he stated. “Upon completion, the highway will be opened to traffic, thereby enhancing the overall transportation infrastructure in the region and fostering economic growth.”

While in Lagos, Umahi also used the opportunity to criticize a recent coalition movement spearheaded by prominent politicians seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the next election.

He described the move as politically expedient and lacking genuine concern for Nigerians’ welfare.

“I am deeply disappointed in their approach, which appears to be driven more by political expediency than a genuine commitment to the welfare and well-being of the Nigerian people,” Umahi said. “These individuals would be better served by demonstrating their track records of achievement while in office, rather than making unsubstantiated calls for the removal of a democratically elected leader.”

Speaking as a key political figure from the Southeast, Umahi reaffirmed the region’s support for President Tinubu’s administration, cautioning against what he called “vacuous promises and rhetoric devoid of substance.”

“We expect leaders to be accountable, transparent, and responsible in their actions, and we will not be persuaded by baseless criticisms,” he declared.

He further warned that the Southeast would not allow itself to be “driven back to Egypt” in the coming polls, pledging massive support for President Tinubu.

“The Southeast stands united in its resolve to support President Tinubu, and we will not be deterred by the machinations of those who seek to undermine our collective interests,” Umahi added.

The coastal highway project is one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in the country, aimed at easing transportation bottlenecks along Nigeria’s southwestern corridor.