The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid, arguing that continuity in leadership would sustain the administration’s infrastructure drive and consolidate the gains of its economic reforms.
Umahi made the call at a town hall meeting in Kano, ahead of the commissioning of major road projects in the state, including outstanding works on Section I, Lot 1 (Zaria-Kano) of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, the ministry said in a statement.
The minister, who also called for the re-election of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, said the federal government’s infrastructure investments and difficult economic decisions were laying the foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity.
“The worst is over. The darkest part of the morning is the dawn. We are moving into prosperity as a result of the hard decisions occasioned by the reforms,” he said.
He identified the removal of petroleum subsidy and other economic policy changes as necessary measures to reposition the Nigerian economy, urging citizens to remain patient as the benefits of the reforms increasingly translated into development projects across the country.
Umahi also dismissed the perception that the South-east was opposed to Tinubu’s administration, reaffirming the region’s commitment to national unity and calling for support for the president’s second-term ambition.
The minister commended Yusuf for his leadership, particularly his efforts to promote peace, unity and inclusive governance, while praising the state’s environmental sanitation standards.
“I am yet to see another state that is beating Kano in cleanliness. In all the streets we passed through, you could pick a pin,” Umahi said.
He attributed the level of cleanliness to purposeful leadership and the effective use of public resources, adding that Kano’s example reflected the standard of environmental responsibility and governance Nigerians deserved.
Umahi also praised the governor for bringing together political leaders, former governors, prominent indigenes and other stakeholders, describing the gesture as evidence of mutual respect and a commitment to the collective progress of the state.
He urged Kano residents to support Yusuf’s second-term bid, arguing that continuity would help sustain the governor’s development initiatives and strengthen the state’s contribution to national progress.
The minister further advocated greater representation of engineers in leadership positions, saying their technical expertise, professional training and problem-solving abilities could improve governance and infrastructure delivery.
He expressed appreciation for the peaceful atmosphere and unity he witnessed in Kano, noting that the experience had positively influenced his perception of the state and prompted him to reconsider his departure date.
Earlier, Yusuf commended the federal government for its infrastructure investments, particularly the road projects expected to improve transportation, connectivity and economic activities in Kano and the wider North-west region.
The governor described the scheduled commissioning of outstanding works on the Zaria-Kano section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway as a significant milestone in the country’s infrastructure development.
He thanked Tinubu for the interventions and other support extended to Kano State, expressing optimism that the commissioning ceremony would be successful.
The Federal Ministry of Works said it remained committed to delivering durable, safe and quality road infrastructure across the country under the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
