A Taraba State-based civic advocate, Abdulmumin Imam, has raised alarm, claiming that the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, secretly procured security orders directing the Police, DSS, and Civil Defence to arrest him over his criticism of government inaction on the collapsed Namnai Bridge.

Imam, who has documented the human tragedies surrounding the fallen bridge, said his only “offence” was exposing what he described as a covert diversion of N16.5 billion, which had been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the bridge’s emergency reconstruction.

A family source told SaharaReporters that Imam had received no invitation, summons, or formal notice from any security agency.

“Everything was done behind closed doors. Abdulmumin has committed no crime,” the source said.

Bridge Collapse and Human Tragedy

The collapsed Namnai Bridge has reportedly remained unrepaired 15 months after it fell in August 2024, despite federal approval for emergency reconstruction. Multiple fatalities have been reported, including a pregnant woman and a toddler, as locals continue to risk crossing the dangerous river channel.

“A whole community has been cut off. These are human tragedies, not politics,” the source added.

Alleged Diversion of Funds

In a Facebook post earlier this week, Imam accused Minister Maigari of stalling the bridge project while lobbying for the funds to be diverted to a non-emergency concrete pavement project on the Namnai–Jalingo access road.

“Lives are being lost at Namnai Bridge while this emergency contract is stalled! Why is Minister Uba Maigari Ahmadu sitting on the Namnai Bridge contract?” Imam wrote.

Imam explained that the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, had acted promptly to place the reconstruction under emergency procurement, securing presidential approval for a N16.5 billion contract with Wiz China Worldwide Engineering Ltd. for a 10-span bridge.

He alleged that Minister Maigari intervened, lobbying to divert the funds to a non-emergency road project while trying to shift responsibility for the bridge to the Nigerian Eastern Development Commission (NEDC).

“If the project had not been hijacked as alleged, the 10 piers would have been standing today,” Imam said, adding that the diversion left the bridge unrepaired with no mobilisation, no staff, and no equipment.

He questioned the prioritisation of the road project over the collapsed bridge, which already claimed lives, and challenged the minister to prove that the diversion was presidentially sanctioned.

Official Correspondence

A letter dated September 10, 2025, signed by the Director of Public Procurement, Dauda Ismaila Belel, confirmed the provisional award of the emergency reconstruction contract for Namnai Bridge at a sum of N16.5 billion, inclusive of VAT. The letter outlined conditions for the contractor, including formal acceptance, execution of a legal agreement, and commencement of work under emergency procurement.

Calls for Accountability

Imam urged federal authorities to ensure that the bridge reconstruction proceeds without further delays to prevent additional loss of life and criticized what he described as political interference undermining emergency infrastructure projects.

Efforts by SaharaReporters to reach Minister Uba Maigari Ahmadu for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.