By joshua Support Tinubu’s Re-election To Complete All Ongoing Projects- Umahi Tell S/East Residents
By Emmanuel Agbo, Abakaliki
The Minister of works Senator David Umahi has urged South-East residents to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid to complete all ongoing legacy projects, insisting that the region had benefited significantly from federal road projects under the present administration.
Umahi made the appeal at Onueke Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State while inspecting the ongoing roads construction works on the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway and the Amasiri–Uturu–Okigwe–Afikpo Federal Highway in Ebonyi State.
According to him, the federal government’s massive roads infrastructure programme have created thousands of direct and indirect jobs through construction activities, increased demand for locally produced cement, and stimulated businesses supplying construction materials such as sand, stones and reinforcement products.
He explained that the adoption of reinforced concrete pavement on major highways was designed not only to improve the road durability but also to boost local industries which according to him “virtually all construction inputs are sourced within Nigeria”.
The minister noted that while many Nigerians were concerned about the country’s economic challenges, he insisted that infrastructure development has remained one of the major strategies being deployed by the Tinubu administration to stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities and to improve connectivity among States in Nigeria.
Focusing on the South-East, the minister described the ongoing Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway as a transformative project that would drastically reduce travel time between the region and the Federal Capital Territory.
He disclosed that Section One of the highway covers about 125 kilometres, with more than 30 per cent of the alignment passing through communities in Ebonyi State, while Section Two spans approximately 168 kilometres from Ebonyi through Benue, Enugu and Kogi States before linking Abuja.
Umahi also revealed that compensation processes for affected property owners in Ebonyi State were being reviewed before payment, commending the state government under governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for its cooperation in the enumeration exercise.
He further announced that strategic flyovers would be constructed at major traffic bottlenecks, including Onueke, Ishieke and other critical junctions, to complement the ongoing road expansion.
The minister also defended the Federal Government’s decision to obtain loans for infrastructure development, stating that the borrowings were targeted at productive projects rather than recurrent expenditure.
He argued that every developing nation invests heavily in infrastructure through long-term financing, stressing that completed projects would enhance economic productivity for generations.
Umahi maintained that supporting the President would ensure the completion of the legacy infrastructure projects currently under construction, warning that a change in administration could delay or abandon ongoing works.
He however called on the journalists to give balanced reportage to the ongoing infrastructure projects across the South-East, saying many Nigerians were unaware of the level of development taking place in the region.
“I am not asking you to report what we are are not doing. Report what we are doing so that the people of the South-East will know what the President is doing for them,” Umahi said, while maintaining that although he remained open to criticism, while advising Nigerians to continue in their acknowledgement in what he described as the administration’s achievements.
On socio-economic challenges facing the country, the minister appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the President, arguing that decades of infrastructure deficits could not be reversed within a few years.
Also speaking during the inspection, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), Barr. Chioma Nweze, praised the Federal Government for opening up previously inaccessible communities through road construction, saying that the projects would improve transportation, healthcare access, commerce and regional integration.
Barr Nweze further disclosed that construction on the Super Highways had reached about 39 per cent completion, with work progressing simultaneously on both carriageways.
She also commended the Tinubu’s administration for the ongoing road projects linking Ebonyi with Cross River, Enugu, Rivers and other parts of the South-East, describing the investments as unprecedented in the region.
Also speaking, the Project Manager of the contracting firm, Infiouest International Limited, Engineer Mohammed Moustafa, confirmed that earthworks, soil stabilisation and reinforced concrete pavement construction were progressing according to schedule.
Also, representatives of construction firms handling the Amasiri–Uturu–Okigwe–Afikpo Highway equally briefed the minister on progress made, particularly at the difficult mountain section around Uturu, where retaining walls, drainage systems and slope stabilisation works are ongoing.
Responding, Umahi recalled that the highway had remained abandoned for several years before the current administration revived it under the Dangote Tax Credit Scheme.
He described the reconstruction as another demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to connecting communities, improving economic activities and ensuring safer transportation across the South-East.
The minister concluded by reaffirming that all ongoing legacy road projects would be completed within President Tinubu’s tenure, and expressed confidence that the infrastructure investments would transform the economic fortunes of the region and the country at large.