… Says GDP growing faster than population, gives NANS six cars for nationwide project monitoring,
By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has described the appointment of the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, as a vote of confidence in one of the major drivers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
NANS, during a visit to the Minister at his conference room in Abuja on Monday, decorated Umahi as the Grand Patron of the association, citing his commitment to hard work, excellence and infrastructural development across the country.
Speaking after receiving the honour, Umahi charged Nigerian students to see themselves as future leaders and become actively involved in the affairs of the country, urging them not to remain on the fence on issues of national development.
The minister specifically urged the students to support President Tinubu’s administration, saying they should “vote for Tinubu” and take a clear position in the interest of Nigeria’s development.
Umahi also defended the economic policies of the administration, claiming that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was growing faster than the country’s population.
He said revenues from the removal of subsidy and borrowing were being channelled into road infrastructure, stressing that about N782 billion was required to complete legacy road projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister further disclosed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would be completed despite criticisms and opposition, insisting that more than 50 per cent of the entire stretch had already been completed.
Umahi criticised opposition politicians for making promises without presenting clear roadmaps on how such promises would be fulfilled.
He expressed concern that some opposition leaders had abandoned issue-based politics and were concentrating on attacking personalities and “chasing shadows.”
The minister, however, commended former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, for focusing on national issues rather than personality attacks.
On his political differences with former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Umahi said his disagreement was based on his conviction that Obi would defeat incumbent President Tinubu.
Meanwhile, NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, said the association’s decision to honour Umahi was in recognition of his “hard work and commitment to excellence.”
Afeez said the students’ delegation was at the Ministry of Works to forge a partnership that would enable Nigerian students to tour and monitor some of the legacy projects being executed by the Tinubu administration under Umahi’s leadership.
He said, “We are here to recognise hard work and immeasurable service to humanity.
“Your landmark achievements in road infrastructure will open up our economy and create jobs for the teeming youths.
“Road infrastructure is particularly significant for our students as it will ease movement to examination venues, provide access to educational locations, reduce long hours of vehicular movement across Nigeria and ensure timeliness.”
The NANS president described Umahi’s appointment as “a vote of confidence” in one of the major drivers of the Renewed Hope Agenda, assuring the minister of the association’s support.
He said, “Your appointment is a vote of confidence as one of the main drivers of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we will support you on this journey.”
Afeez added that Nigerian students had a responsibility to contribute to national development, noting that the scale of road projects completed under Umahi’s leadership deserved recognition.
He expressed optimism that the partnership between NANS and the Ministry of Works would be sustained in the interest of Nigerian students and the wider public.
In a further show of support for the students’ project-monitoring initiative, Umahi donated six vehicles to NANS to facilitate nationwide monitoring of federal road projects.
The minister said the initiative would provide students with an opportunity to witness first-hand the infrastructure projects being undertaken across the country and contribute to monitoring their progress.
