The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has described 2026 as a year of restoration for Nigeria, declaring that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given Ndigbo the “Biafra they have been seeking” through inclusive governance and full integration into national politics.
Umahi made this assertion in his New Year message, where he reiterated his long-held position that the agitation and aspirations of the Igbo people are being addressed not through secession, but through equity, inclusion, and participation at the highest levels of national development.
According to the minister, the worst period of Nigeria’s nationhood is over, attributing renewed optimism to what he described as robust and courageous economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
He expressed confidence that the coming year would witness a massive turnaround across critical sectors of the economy.
He urged the people of the South East to remain steadfast in their support for President Tinubu, particularly ahead of the 2027 general election, stressing that the president represents a major consolation to Ndigbo after years of neglect and marginalization.
Umahi further expressed optimism that the South East would correct what he described as the “wrong of the 2023 general election” by speaking with one voice in support of Tinubu, whom he said has deliberately addressed the historical exclusion of the region by successive administrations.
“Our people will never make the mistake of 2023 again. We shall remain resolute and stand strongly together behind Mr. President in the 2027 election. Ndigbo will not be deceived again by marauding politicians with sugarcoated mouths," Umahi said.
He warned against internal political divisions, insisting that Tinubu’s re-election aligns with the collective interest of the South East.
Umahi added that if the president appears on the ballot in 2027, then all South East governors and leaders should see themselves as being on that same ballot.
“When Mr. President is on the ballot, all the governors of the South East are on the ballot. I, the Minister of Works, am also on the ballot.
"It is our collective interest to support a man who has reopened our chapter and is massively investing in our future. Indeed, the Biafra is here," he said.
The minister called for social re-engineering and the deradicalization of lingering agitations, noting that the Biafra Ndigbo fought for and continue to seek has effectively arrived through national integration, equality, and shared access to development.
On infrastructure, Umahi assured Nigerians that federal road projects across all regions are receiving adequate funding and strict supervision.
He pledged that many of the ongoing projects would be completed in record time and according to specifications.
He also disclosed plans to establish a special task force to enforce the ban on truck parking along federal highways.
According to him, the Ministry of Works will collaborate with security agencies to ensure safer highways, especially as travelers return to their destinations after the yuletide season.
Umahi called for unity, patience, and sustained support for the current administration, insisting that Nigeria is firmly on the path of recovery and long-term national renewal.
