Minister of Works Dave Umahi has dismissed reports of a political rift between him and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, describing the former Rivers State governor as a progressive politician and insisting that both men remain part of the same political family.
Umahi spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday while responding to reports of divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and speculation over his relationship with Wike.
“We need Wike as Wike needs us. So, it’s one family,” Umahi said.
The minister said reports of disagreements between the two politicians had been exaggerated by political opponents, maintaining that his relationship with Wike remained cordial.
His comments come against the backdrop of renewed political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, with Wike’s continued association with the Tinubu administration attracting attention because of his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State who moved from the PDP to the APC, said political differences should not be allowed to distract from the broader objective of national development.
The Works Minister also used the press conference to highlight the Federal Government’s infrastructure programme, saying the Works Ministry inherited 2,068 ongoing projects valued at about ₦13 trillion.
He defended government borrowing for infrastructure, arguing that borrowing could be justified where funds are invested in projects capable of generating economic returns and addressing the country’s infrastructure deficit.
Umahi also defended the procurement process for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the law permits open competitive, selective and special procurement methods.
According to him, the first phase of the coastal highway was executed through special procurement because of the complexity of the terrain and the need for specialised coastal engineering expertise. He said the process received the approval of the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council.
The minister further disclosed that the government had launched an intervention on the Asaba-Benin road after challenges associated with its concession, with work ongoing on seven sections.
On road construction, Umahi again defended the government’s use of concrete pavement, arguing that properly designed and maintained concrete roads could provide greater durability.
The minister’s comments ultimately sought to draw a line between political speculation and the administration’s development agenda, insisting that the focus should remain on delivering infrastructure rather than amplifying divisions within the ruling political establishment.
His dismissal of a rift with Wike also comes as the APC and its allies work to maintain a broad political coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, when the strength and cohesion of Tinubu’s political network will face a major electoral test.