Dave Umahi

**David Nweze Umahi: Nigerian Politician and Engineer** David Nweze Umahi (born July 25, 1964) is a Nigerian politician, civil engineer, and businessman who currently serves as the Minister of Works of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He previously served as the Governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023, and before that, as the Deputy Governor of the state from 2011 to 2015. Umahi is recognized for his significant infrastructure development focus during his tenure as governor and his ongoing work on federal road and bridge projects. **Early Life and Education** Umahi was born in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). Before entering politics, he established himself as a successful businessman and civil engineer. **Career Progression** Umahi’s political career began with his appointment as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007, later becoming the substantive chairman in 2009. He was elected as the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State in 2011, serving alongside Governor Martin Elechi. In 2015, Umahi contested and won the gubernatorial election under the PDP platform, becoming the third Governor of Ebonyi State. He was re-elected for a second term in 2019. In November 2020, Umahi formally defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Following the end of his term as governor, he was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Minister of Works in August 2023. **Major Achievements and Notable Works** During his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State, Umahi became widely known as the "Ebonyi Infrastructure Governor" for his extensive development projects, particularly in road construction, flyovers, and building modern infrastructure. Some of his notable works include the construction of numerous concrete roads across the state and massive urban renewal projects in Abakaliki, the state capital. As Minister of Works, Umahi has been instrumental in overseeing critical federal infrastructure projects. He is highly focused on the timely completion and quality of road construction, notably pushing for the completion of abandoned projects such as sections of the troubled Enugu–Onitsha expressway. He has also announced significant national policies, including the ban on mining activities within a 10-kilometer radius of bridges nationwide to strengthen their structural integrity and ensure road safety. **Current Status** David Umahi currently serves as Nigeria's Minister of Works, a position where he is actively supervising and directing major federal road and bridge construction projects across the country, with a particular emphasis on the Southeast and South-south regions. In his capacity as Minister, he continues to champion new approaches to road construction and project management. He remains an influential figure in the politics of Ebonyi State, where his son, Osborne Umahi, has recently obtained the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship form for the Ohaozara Local Government Area elections.