By our Reporter
Senator Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, said that several major road projects in the South-East and adjoining regions, originally conceived during the colonial era but left unrealised for decades, are now being actualised under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Umahi made the remarks on Saturday in Ebonyi State while leading senior journalists and government officials on an inspection tour of ongoing federal infrastructure projects across the state.
The minister highlighted the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway as one of the landmark projects being executed by the Federal Government, describing it as a strategic economic corridor that would connect the South-East, South-South and North-Central regions while boosting trade and regional integration.
“It is a colonial-era dream long forgotten, but President Tinubu has revived it, and construction is now underway. We must thank him immensely,” Umahi said.
According to him, Section One of the project, initially designed as a 118-kilometre stretch, has been expanded to 123.6 kilometres and awarded at a cost of ₦45 billion, with dualisation works currently in progress.
He disclosed that Section Two, extending from the Ebonyi border through Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa State, has also been awarded at a contract sum of ₦668 billion.
The minister noted that work on parts of the project has reached approximately 28 per cent completion despite the rainy season, attributing the progress to the adoption of concrete pavement technology championed by President Tinubu.
Umahi described the superhighway as more than a transportation project, saying it would serve as a major investment corridor for agricultural and commercial activities.
“The Trans-Saharan Superhighway is not just a road; it is an investment corridor that will catalyse trade in agricultural produce such as cassava, yam, cashew and palm oil from Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi states, while also connecting Nigeria to Cameroon,” he stated.
The minister expressed appreciation on behalf of the South-East region for what he described as President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive development.
“All our forefathers sought—inclusiveness—we have it now,” he said.
During the inspection, Umahi, alongside the Acting Federal Controller of Works in Ebonyi State, Engr. Maxwell Okoh, and the Project Manager of Infiouest International Limited, Mohammed Mustafa, visited critical bridges and construction sites along the superhighway corridor.
The delegation also inspected the 1.3-kilometre Ndi-Egbe Bridge in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, which links the state to Cross River and is expected to be completed by December 2026.
They further toured the Onueke Flyover project in Ebonyi Central Senatorial District. Umahi said the ₦35 billion project is designed to ease traffic congestion and improve transportation efficiency in the area.
The minister also inspected completed concrete pavement link roads connecting Ebonyi and Cross River states, including the Okposi-Ukawu and Ugwulangu-Abaomege axis.
Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, commended President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure development in the South-East and supporting development projects across the state.
Receiving members of the media delegation in Abakaliki, Nwifuru described Ebonyi as one of the safest states in Nigeria and disclosed that there had been no reported kidnapping incidents since he assumed office.
He said the state government had continued to invest heavily in development projects across all local government areas, including rural roads, primary healthcare centres and water supply schemes.
“We have kept contractors busy in the state with projects spread across every local government area, from rural roads to primary health centres and water schemes,” the governor said.
Nwifuru also expressed support for President Tinubu’s national development agenda, noting that the administration’s infrastructure investments were positively impacting communities across the region.
As part of activities marking the visit, South-East governors and political leaders are expected to converge in Abakaliki on Monday for a major rally in support of President Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Umahi said the rally would provide an opportunity for the people of the region to express appreciation for the President’s infrastructure initiatives and commitment to inclusive governance.
The National Media Tour was organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.
The delegation, which is headed by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, is expected to continue its inspection tour across Enugu, Abia, Anambra and Imo states to assess projects being executed under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
