I didn’t pocket N300 billion, fixed major roads in Nigeria- Umahi replies Reps panel

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has replied the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), saying he did not misuse or pocket N300 billion budgeted for his office.

Honourable Remi Oseni had attacked Umahi for failure to fix all federal roads in Nigeria despite the N300 billion approved for his office.

The Minister, who appeared before the committee last week, told the panel that the deplorable state of roads was due to lack of resources.

Dissatisfied with Umahi’s excuse, Oseni said the minister had no reason to complain about the resources having been approved the sum of N300 billion.

In his response at a press briefing held at the Ministry headquarters on Monday in Abuja, stated that Oseni had not attained half of what he had achieved in life.

He said, “Let me say that I was not physically present at the meeting, nor was my permanent secretary because nobody can talk to me like that in my presence. It’s not possible

“And from what I gathered, he is possibly working with some contractors who are not happy with the reform in the Ministry of Works, or he thought I was going to be removed. And so his anger is, why was I not removed?

“No one in life ever said I have failed and I have never failed in anything I am involved in, and if he likes, he should go and check my pedigree. I believe that God has to be with him to attain half of what I have attained in life. So, I will not join issues with him because I have tremendous respect for Mr Speaker and the National Assembly.”