A video of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, personally inspecting a road project with a measuring tape has gone viral, drawing sharp reactions across social media platforms.
The clip, which shows Umahi bent over with his tape in hand, appeared to be a practical demonstration of his engineering expertise.
However, the moment quickly became more than just a site inspection. Many Nigerians began linking the act to Arise TV journalist, Rufai Oseni, who had previously criticised Umahi’s approach to project supervision. Some users claimed the minister’s actions were aimed at “proving a point” after earlier media scrutiny.
While supporters praised Umahi for being hands-on, others accused him of grandstanding for the cameras. The video has since dominated online conversations, blurring the line between genuine leadership and performance politics.
Supporters praise Umahi’s expertise amid media pressure
Among the noise, some voices rose in Umahi’s defence, stressing that his practical involvement was refreshing compared to what they called “office engineering.” inpeters tweeted, “Unlike Fashola, Umahi is actually an engineer. Construction is his specialty. I don’t like APC, but Umahi knows his onions.”
Supporters argued that having a minister who understands the technical side of construction could improve accountability in Nigeria’s infrastructure projects. They maintained that critics were reading too much into a simple act of oversight.
Social media users bring Rufai into the mix
Almost immediately after the clip surfaced, Rufai Oseni’s name began trending alongside Umahi’s. Some commentators claimed the minister was indirectly responding to Oseni’s criticism of his engineering credentials, suggesting the act was a subtle clapback.
A user, triccuka, wrote, “See how Rufai made this man start recording to show working,” while teejayviruz quipped, “Professor in practice.” Another user, iam_osv, mocked the video’s caption, saying, “‘Puts Rufai to shame’ because he carries a measuring tape? This handler is unserious.”
Despite the playful jabs, many social media users acknowledged Umahi’s technical background, noting that he is one of the few engineers to hold the Works portfolio in recent years. Yet, others questioned whether such site theatrics were necessary for a minister of his rank.
Watch the video below…
https://Twitter.com/TrendingEx/status/1977656872955183431?t=eEgpNeJqYm5bH8swLGOV8w&s=19