Tinubu Reviving Colonial-Era South-East Road Projects – Umahi

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has said President Bola Tinubu is reviving several road projects conceived during the colonial era but abandoned for decades, describing the initiative as a major infrastructure breakthrough for the South-East under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Umahi made the remark on Saturday in Ebonyi State while leading a delegation of senior journalists and government officials on an inspection tour of key infrastructure projects across the region.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Tunde Rahman, the former Ebonyi State governor said the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway is one of the landmark projects revived by the Tinubu administration, adding that it would serve the South-East, South-South, and parts of the North-Central region.

He said, “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 disclosed that Section One of the project, originally designed as 118 kilometres but later extended to 123.6 kilometres, is being dualised under a ₦45 billion contract, while Section Two—stretching from Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi to Nasarawa State—has been awarded for ₦668 billion.

He added that some sections of the highway have reached about 28 per cent completion, with work ongoing despite the rainy season through the use of concrete pavement technology.

According to him, the Trans-Saharan Superhighway will function as an investment corridor, boosting agricultural trade in commodities such as cassava, yams, cashew, and palm oil across Cross River, Benue, and Ebonyi States, while also enhancing cross-border trade with Cameroon.

“The Trans-Sahara Superhighway is not just a road; it is an investment corridor that will catalyse trade in agricultural produce like cassava, yams, cashews and palm oil from Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi, while also connecting Nigeria to Cameroon,” he said.

Umahi further noted that the concrete road technology introduced during President Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State is now being deployed nationwide as part of infrastructure modernisation efforts.

He also expressed appreciation on behalf of the South-East, saying the region now enjoys the level of inclusion long demanded by past generations.

“All our forefathers sought—inclusiveness—we have it now,” he stated.

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, assessed critical bridges along Section One of the superhighway and concrete pavement works at the Onueke axis.

The team also visited the 1.3-kilometre Ndi-Egbe Bridge in Afikpo Local Government Area, linking Ugep in Cross River State, which is expected to be completed by December 2026.

At the Onueke Flyover in Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, Umahi said the ₦35 billion project was designed to ease traffic congestion, noting that it rises to 90 metres and is supported by a 2.2-kilometre dual access road on both sides.

The delegation also inspected a completed concrete pavement link road connecting Okposi–Ukawu in Ohaozara LGA with Ugwulangwu–Abaomege in Cross River State.

Meanwhile, Governor Francis Nwifuru, commended President Tinubu for what he described as sustained commitment to infrastructure development in the South-East and nationwide.

Receiving the delegation in Abakaliki, Nwifuru said contractors were active across all local government areas of Ebonyi State, handling projects ranging from rural roads to primary healthcare centres and water 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,” he said.

The governor also declared Ebonyi State the safest in Nigeria, claiming that no kidnapping incident had been recorded since he assumed office.

The media tour, organised by the Hope Uzodimma-led Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team, continues across South-East states including Enugu, Abia, Anambra, and Imo.