N’Assembly To Meet Umahi, MTN Over Enugu-Onitsha Expressway Rehabilitation

Members of the Senate and House of Representatives will, on Wednesday, January 29, hold an interactive meeting with the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and multinational corporation and mobile telecommunications provider, MTN Group Limited, over Enugu-Onitsha Expressway rehabilitation project.

Recall that on January 25, a PMS-laden truck collided with some vehicles on the road and erupted in flames, leading to casualties.

According to reports, the road project is being funded through the MTN tax credit scheme and has been under rehabilitation for over 15 years, claiming hundreds of lives in the past years.

Federal lawmakers from Anambra and Enugu States led by the Senate Minority Whip, Senatoe Osita Ngwu, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Works, while commending him for the remarkable strides made in transforming the nation’s infrastructure landscape, notified him of the meeting, which will also have MTN representatives in attendance.

In the letter jointly signed by Senator Ngwu, Senatoe Victor Umeh, Hon. Paschal Agbodike and Hon. Sam Atu, the lawmakers said the fulcrum of the meeting will be to explore ways to expedite the commencement of work on the second lane of the expressway and completion of the entire project, ensuring its timely delivery.

The letter reads in part, “We wish to express our profound appreciation and commendation for the remarkable strides your ministry has made in transforming the nation’s infrastructure landscape. The unprecedented scale of road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance across the country is a testament to your leadership and commitment to delivering on the government’s promises. As members of the Anambra and Enugu Caucus of the National Assembly, we are particularly grateful for the attention given to the South-East region, and we acknowledge the efforts being made to address the region’s infrastructure deficits.

“However, we would like to bring to your attention the ongoing rehabilitation of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, funded by MTN through the tax credit scheme. As you may be aware, the project has been plagued by dclays, resulting in incessant accidents and loss of lives, including the recent fuel tanker incident along Ugwuonyeama (Enugu End) Expressway that claimed several lives. We believe a discussion with your office would be beneficial in addressing our constituents’ concerns and finding solutions to the project’s problems. We would like to explore ways to expedite the commencement of work on the second lane and completion of the entire project, ensuring its timely delivery.”