The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its notable achievements in road infrastructure across Nigeria.
Mark Adebayo, the coalition’s National Spokesperson, made the remarks in a statement on Saturday in Abuja following an inspection of the Abuja–Lokoja–Benin Road and other key projects.
Adebayo said CUPP rated the administration “very good” in road development after a detailed assessment of multiple sectors of the Nigerian economy over the past two years.
“The steering committee of CUPP undertook independent inspections to assess the state of infrastructure firsthand, aiming to separate facts from government propaganda,” he explained.
He noted that the coalition initially set out to verify or challenge claims by the federal government, but the findings impressed them.
“Those who were on the inspection tour include Mr. Emeka Igwe, Mrs. Grace Ishaku, Dr. Abayọmi Runsewe, Amb. Abbah Lewis, and myself,” Adebayo said.
He emphasized the importance of constructive criticism. “Even as opposition members, if you see positive developments, you should acknowledge them. Everything is not about criticism and condemnation,” he said.
Highlighting the achievements of the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, Adebayo said: “The many road construction and rehabilitation projects ongoing across the country are ambitious in scope. From our assessment, Umahi is arguably the hardest-working minister in the current administration.”
He praised the minister’s response to a recent tragedy in Essan Community, Niger State, following a tanker explosion.
“The minister sent a delegation to convey the government’s sympathy and assured the community that the road would be promptly repaired. That was purposeful leadership,” Adebayo added.
CUPP’s field inspection revealed contractors actively working on major road projects nationwide, employing durable construction methods such as concrete reinforced with iron. Notable projects include the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Expressway, Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (Phase 1), Benin–Shagamu–Ore Road, Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, and the dualisation of the Abuja–Lokoja–Benin Road.
Adebayo confirmed that further inspections are planned before year-end to provide additional feedback to the public and advice to the government where necessary.
“From our observations, if the government continues to apply the current energy and resources to Nigeria’s road networks, the long-standing problem of bad roads could be a thing of the past,” he said.
He concluded by urging the government to respect citizens’ rights to observe public projects. “Every Nigerian has the right to harmlessly monitor government projects as part of civic responsibility, without harassment from security agencies. This provides an alternative feedback mechanism to the public,” Adebayo noted.
