In fairness to Umahi, By Osmund Agbo

Nigerian Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, is no stranger to controversy, with allegations of authoritarian power and executive overreach dogging his career. A former governor of Ebonyi State and senator, Umahi's tenure has been marked by clashes with critics and the media.

During his governorship, journalist Chijioke Agwu was arrested and detained under COVID-19 regulations after publishing a report on Lassa fever cases. Vanguard reporter Peter Okutu also faced arrest around the same period. These incidents highlight a pattern of intolerance towards dissent, a trait the author notes is not uncommon among Nigerian public officials.

Beyond media relations, Umahi faces accusations from businesswoman Tracyniter Nicholas Ohiri, who claims he failed to pay for goods and services and made personal advances. Umahi has dismissed these claims as false and politically motivated.

However, the most significant public concern surrounds the 2021 disappearance of five engineers from NELAN Consulting Limited. The engineers vanished while supervising the African Development Bank-funded Abakaliki Ring Road project in Ebonyi State. Their families have spent years seeking answers about their fate, questioning the circumstances of their disappearance and the subsequent investigations.