Former Edo Governor and APC stalwart, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has fired shots at Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, over his controversial road construction priorities — and Nigerians are talking.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole did not come to the Senate chambers to sip tea and keep quiet. The outspoken former Governor of Edo State took the bull by the horns when he openly called out the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, over what many Nigerians have long been thinking but were afraid to say out loud — why are we talking about building brand new roads when the ones we already have are in a deplorable, sorry state?
Speaking directly on the floor of the Senate, Oshiomhole made it clear that Umahi needs to be properly guided in his priorities as a minister. His message was sharp, direct, and — frankly — one that resonates with every Nigerian who has had to navigate pothole-riddled roads, blown out tyres, or worse, lost a loved one to a road accident caused by poor infrastructure.
The Real Question Every Nigerian Is Asking
Let’s be honest — from Lagos to Enugu, Kano to Benin City, the average Nigerian knows the pain of bad roads. Market women carrying their goods, commercial drivers dodging craters the size of small ponds, families travelling for Christmas and praying they arrive safely. This is our everyday reality.
So when a minister starts making noise about constructing fresh new roads while existing ones are literally swallowing vehicles whole, it raises serious eyebrows. And Oshiomhole — never one to mince words — decided to voice what the streets have been saying.
“He Needs to Be Guided”
Oshiomhole’s choice of words was deliberate. Saying someone “needs to be guided” in Nigerian political speak is not just a gentle suggestion — it is a firm rebuke wrapped in diplomatic language. It essentially means: oga, you are going in the wrong direction, and someone needs to call you back before you waste our resources.
The senator’s position is straightforward — the federal government should prioritise the rehabilitation of existing roads that are in terrible condition before channelling funds into new construction projects. After all, what is the point of building a new express road when the one beside it has not seen maintenance since the Jonathan administration?
What This Means for Nigerians
This public disagreement between a serving minister and a senior senator from the same ruling party, the APC, signals something important — there are people within the system who are willing to hold their own accountable. Whether this translates into real action or just another floor-of-the-Senate drama remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: Nigerians are watching, and they are tired. Tired of bad roads. Tired of misplaced priorities. Tired of paying fuel money through their noses only to destroy their cars on government roads that were never properly fixed.
The Ball Is Now in Umahi’s Court
Dave Umahi, a former two-term Governor of Ebonyi State, is no stranger to controversy or bold projects. But as Minister of Works at the federal level, the scale and responsibility are far greater. Oshiomhole’s call-out is an opportunity — not just an attack. It is a chance for Umahi to reassess, reprioritise, and show Nigerians that their taxes and their suffering are being taken seriously.
Fix the bad roads first. That is the assignment. Everything else can wait.
What do you think? Should the government focus on fixing existing roads before building new ones? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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