By our reporter

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has publicly declared that he will resign from office if the ongoing Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano highway project is found to be substandard. The dramatic statement was made on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, during a tense budget defence session before a joint committee of the National Assembly in Abuja.

The minister’s remarks came in response to sharp questions from lawmakers regarding the quality of work on the strategic highway and the credibility of one of the contractors handling the project. The Abuja–Kaduna–Kano corridor is one of the most critical federal highways in Nigeria, linking the Federal Capital Territory to major commercial and political centres in the North.

During the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North and a former governor of Edo State, reportedly questioned the ministry’s decision to award part of the project to a contractor he described as relatively unknown in the road construction sector. The issue triggered a heated exchange between the minister and several legislators, reflecting broader concerns over procurement processes and project oversight.

In response, Umahi challenged the lawmakers to conduct an independent inspection of the project, insisting that his ministry would not tolerate substandard work. He declared that his continued tenure in office should be tied to the integrity of the project itself.

“If it is not up to standard, I will resign,” he told the lawmakers, reiterating his readiness to subject the road to independent quality testing.

The statement immediately reframed the controversy from a routine budget defence into a personal political gamble. By staking his ministerial position on the outcome of a technical integrity test, Umahi effectively placed both his credibility and the reputation of the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure agenda on the line.

The minister’s appearance before the National Assembly was also marked by a heated exchange between lawmakers over the project’s funding structure and contractor selection. Senior legislators, including Senators Ali Ndume and Adamu Aliero, were eventually forced to intervene to calm tensions and allow proceedings to continue.

At the centre of the dispute is the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road, a multi-trillion-naira federal project considered vital for trade, mobility, and national integration. The highway has long been associated with security risks, economic losses, and logistical delays, making its reconstruction a politically sensitive undertaking.

Umahi’s conditional resignation must also be understood within the broader context of mounting scrutiny over federal infrastructure spending. During the same budget defence, the minister presented a capital allocation proposal of over ₦3 trillion for the Ministry of Works in the 2026 fiscal year, including hundreds of billions earmarked for new projects across the six geopolitical zones.

Infrastructure analysts note that the minister’s bold vow reflects both political pressure and the high stakes attached to flagship road projects. According to the World Bank, “public infrastructure is the backbone of economic productivity and social inclusion,” but only when projects are executed with transparency, durability, and proper oversight. Such warnings underscore why quality concerns on major highways often escalate into national political issues.

Similarly, governance scholar Professor Robert Klitgaard has long argued that “the fight against corruption is inseparable from the fight for quality in public services.” In the Nigerian context, where road failures have historically been linked to inflated contracts and weak supervision, Umahi’s pledge is likely

Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria Highway Minister of Works Senator David Umahi

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