Tinubu Revives Long-Abandoned South-East Road Projects, Says Umahi

Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is delivering critical road infrastructure projects in the South-East, including major transport corridors that had remained unrealised since the colonial era.

Umahi made the remarks during an inspection tour of federal road projects in Ebonyi State, where he led a delegation of senior journalists and government officials to assess the progress of ongoing works under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to the minister, one of the flagship projects is the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway, which he described as a strategic economic corridor designed to boost trade, connectivity and regional development across the South-East, South-South and North-Central regions.

He noted that the project, conceived decades ago but left dormant, has now been revived by the Tinubu administration.

“It is a colonial-era dream long forgotten, but President Tinubu has revived it, and construction is now underway,” Umahi said.

The minister disclosed that Section One of the highway, originally planned as a 118-kilometre stretch, has been expanded to 123.6 kilometres at a cost of N45 billion, with dualisation works progressing steadily. He added that Section Two, spanning parts of Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa states, has been awarded at a contract value of N668 billion.

Umahi said parts of the project have reached approximately 28 per cent completion despite the rainy season, attributing the pace of work to the use of concrete pavement technology.

He explained that the highway would facilitate the movement of agricultural produce such as cassava, yam, cashew and palm oil while enhancing economic ties between Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon.

The minister also said the Federal Government is increasingly adopting concrete road technology across the country to improve durability and reduce maintenance costs.

During the inspection, the delegation visited key infrastructure projects, including bridges along the superhighway corridor, the Onueke concrete pavement section, and the 1.3-kilometre Ndi-Egbe Bridge in Afikpo Local Government Area, which links Ebonyi and Cross River states and is scheduled for completion in December 2026.

The team also inspected the N35 billion Onueke Flyover project, designed to ease traffic congestion and improve transportation within Ebonyi Central Senatorial District.

Speaking during the visit, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru commended the Federal Government for ongoing infrastructure investments in the South-East and highlighted development projects being implemented by his administration across the state.

Nwifuru said contractors are currently handling projects in all local government areas, including rural roads, healthcare facilities and water supply schemes.

The inspection tour was organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team to showcase ongoing federal projects under the Tinubu administration.

The delegation, led by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, is expected to continue its tour of South-East states, including Enugu, Abia, Anambra and Imo.

Umahi also announced that South-East governors and political leaders would gather in Abakaliki for a rally in support of President Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.