The Arewa Youth Assembly, (AYA), has called for the immediate resignation of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, accusing him of poor supervision and mismanagement of the Kaduna–Abuja expressway project.
In a statement dated November 18, 2025 and addressed to Minister Umahi, the youth organisation demanded the termination of the road contract awarded to Infioquest International Limited, citing lack of capacity and transp
The group expressed “profound concern” over the slow pace of work on the strategic highway, which links 12 northern states to the Federal Capital Territory.
The AYA said that 11 months after the revocation of the contract from Julius Berger and its re-award to Infioquest International Limited, the project has shown “snail-pace” progress despite the minister’s public assurances.
According to the group, Umahi had announced that the contract was worth ₦500 billion, with 30 percent—₦150 billion—already paid to the contractor. He also stated that 38 kilometres of reinforced concrete road were ready for commissioning. The youth organisation, however, described these claims as unverified and inconsistent with the reality on the ground.
“As regular users of the road, we doubt these claims. Such a critical project demands transparency, accuracy, and demonstrable proof,” the statement read.
The group demanded a detailed and publicly accessible breakdown of the work done so far, including specific locations, kilometres completed, and the status of all sections of the project.
Describing the highway’s condition as “a national disgrace,” the AYA said the deteriorating road continues to expose commuters to fatal accidents, bandit attacks, and hours-long gridlocks, resulting in avoidable economic losses.
They argued that the stagnation of the project contradicts President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises infrastructure renewal and public safety.
The group insisted that Minister Umahi has failed to apply his “years of experience as a Professor of Engineering in Practice” to ensure that the contractor delivers on its mandate.
As part of its demands, the AYA called for:
1. Immediate termination of the contract with Infioquest International Limited, citing alleged lack of capacity to deliver despite receiving substantial funds.
2. The resignation of Minister Umahi, saying they have lost confidence in his ability to effectively oversee the project.
The petition was signed by Mohammed Salihu Danlami, Speaker of the Arewa Youth Assembly, and copied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Northern Governors Forum, and other northern sociopolitical bodies.
The group warned that failure to meet these demands would lead to mass mobilisation to occupy the minister’s office.
