My Man of the Year is Engr. Dave Umahi, and Nigeria is taking notice. Through visible results and purposeful leadership, he has shown that hope is not lost.
His impact goes beyond the Southeast, reflecting our shared desire for a truly Pan-Nigerian icon one defined by competence, unity, and service. We invite the world to take notice as well.
Thank you, Engr. Dave Umahi, for reminding us that leadership can still inspire belief.
Nigeria’s Infrastructure Signal to the World: The Tinubu/Umahi Model
For international investors and development partners, infrastructure is more than concrete and asphalt. It is a signal of policy coherence, institutional seriousness, and a government’s capacity to convert ambition into durable assets. In Nigeria today, that signal is becoming increasingly clear.
Under the leadership of Engr. David Umahi, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Works has emerged as one of the most credible drivers of large-scale infrastructure delivery on the continent. At a time when many emerging economies struggle with stalled projects, uneven regional investment, and execution risk, Nigeria is demonstrating a renewed capacity for coordinated, nationwide infrastructure development.
What distinguishes the current moment is balance. Federal road and bridge projects are active across all six geopolitical zones and in every state of the federation. This geographic spread is not incidental; it reflects a deliberate strategy of inclusion and national integration. Importantly for investors and partners, it has eliminated the familiar narrative of regional marginalisation that often complicates project continuity and political risk. Infrastructure delivery has become nationally owned, broadly supported, and politically stabilising.
At the centre of this shift is Umahi’s technocratic leadership. A trained engineer, he has approached public works through the lens of design integrity, lifecycle durability, and climate resilience. The Ministry’s emphasis has moved decisively away from short-term visibility toward long-term value an orientation that aligns closely with the priorities of development finance institutions, private investors, and multilateral partners.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s confidence in Umahi has been a critical enabler. That confidence translated into political backing to audit inherited contracts, restructure failing arrangements, and re-prioritise projects based on economic relevance rather than sunk cost alone. For partners accustomed to governance environments where legacy constraints impede reform, this willingness to reset assumptions is a notable departure.
Flagship projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway illustrate this new philosophy. Conceived not merely as a transport corridor but as economic infrastructure, the project integrates trade facilitation, regional connectivity, and climate considerations. Similar discipline now defines work on legacy corridors including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Road, the East–West Road, and strategic bridges that link production zones to markets and ports.
Equally important is the Ministry’s approach to fiscal realism. In an era of constrained public finances, Nigeria’s infrastructure push has been underpinned by contract rationalisation, project segmentation, and value engineering. These tools are being used not to defer delivery, but to ensure sustainability and bankability key considerations for private capital and blended finance structures.
Execution credibility has also improved markedly. Umahi’s insistence on rigorous site supervision and real-time accountability has strengthened project governance. Contractors are held to clear standards, timelines are actively monitored, and design adjustments are made early rather than after failure. This hands-on oversight reduces execution risk and enhances confidence among external partners.
Another important signal to investors is the Ministry’s commitment to domestic capacity. Nigerian engineers, firms, and materials are being deliberately integrated into delivery frameworks without compromising quality. This localisation strategy expands the national skills base, improves cost efficiency, and deepens the long-term sustainability of infrastructure investments—an outcome increasingly valued by development partners.
By 2025, the Ministry of Works had become one of the clearest expressions of Nigeria’s Renewed Hope economic agenda. Infrastructure is no longer treated as a political gesture but as economic architecture supporting trade, mobility, food security, and regional integration. The scale is significant, but the coherence is what stands out.
For international investors and development partners assessing Nigeria today, the message is straightforward. The country is demonstrating improved execution capacity, balanced national investment, and a growing alignment between political authority and technical competence. Under Dave Umahi’s stewardship, public works have become a platform for credibility.
Nigeria has not always been easy terrain for infrastructure investment. But credibility is built through action, not assurances. Across the federation, roads are rising, corridors are opening, and trust is being rebuilt. For partners looking for scale, seriousness, and long-term opportunity, Nigeria’s infrastructure signal is clearer than it has been in years.
Otunba Segun Showunmi
The Alternative
