Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, arguing that no responsible government or economist would prioritise saving money. At the same time, citizens are hungry and critical infrastructure remains undeveloped.

Speaking on Sunday during an inspection of a section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Kogi–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway at the Ebonyi–Benue boundary, Umahi was responding to comments by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who had likened governance to a father who saves for the future.

Umahi insisted that Tinubu’s administration was repositioning Nigeria’s economy through strategic infrastructure investments.

“If you are an economist, you do not save when the people who depend on you are hungry, and you do not save when there is no infrastructure,” he said.

He dismissed Obi’s criticism as “black politics,” adding that Nigerians had become more discerning.

“Infrastructure development is a catalyst for economic growth and increased GDP. That is exactly what President Tinubu is doing,” he said.

The minister challenged Obi and other critics to account for their records while in public office, particularly during Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State.

“When Peter Obi says President Tinubu should resign, I ask: how many times did he resign when he could not fix roads in Anambra?” Umahi said.

He maintained that Tinubu inherited Nigeria’s poor road network and had since embarked on an aggressive programme to rehabilitate and construct roads across the country.

“The President is working. When we took journalists to inspect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, they were amazed by the progress. Today, apart from my brother Peter Obi, you hardly hear anyone complaining about roads because the President is fixing what he inherited,” he added.

Umahi also praised Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as an exceptional leader.

“His type comes once in a generation. Every part of Nigeria is treated as if it were his hometown. A leader who is tribalistic can never succeed,” he said.

Providing updates on the highway project, Umahi said work was progressing simultaneously from multiple sections to speed up completion.

He explained that the Calabar–Abuja Super Highway forms part of Tinubu’s legacy infrastructure projects and would significantly improve connectivity between the South-South, South-East and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, the route runs from Calabar through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa before terminating in Abuja.

“When completed, travellers from the South-South will be able to reach Abuja in about six hours, while those from the South-East, especially Ebonyi State, will get to Abuja in about three hours,” he said.

He added that bypasses and bridges under construction along the corridor would ease traffic congestion, promote commerce and stimulate economic development across the benefiting states.

Umahi urged residents of communities benefiting from the projects to continue supporting and praying for the Tinubu administration, saying the investments would transform the region for generations to come.