"2027: Umahi Urges South-East to Appreciate Tinubu and Embrace Major Projects"

Minister of Works, Engr Dave Umahi, on Monday, again rallied the people of the South-East to adopt a strategic approach and support President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Umahi, who has been a consistent advocate for the President’s re-election, pointed to ongoing federal road projects in the region as clear evidence of commitment to its development.

This is also as he announced plans to open a critical 15-kilometre stretch of the Enugu–Onitsha highway to traffic before Easter, in a move aimed at easing transportation challenges and boosting economic activities across the Southeast.

Umahi spoke to journalists in Enugu during the inspection of ongoing work on federal roads in Enugu State.

He said his tour across the six geopolitical zones was aimed at identifying projects ready for commissioning before May 29, stressing that some key projects would require the President’s presence.

According to him, “Well, I’m going round the six geopolitical zones assessing what is possible to be commissioned before May 29 by Mr President.

“There are some mega projects that, if the President is not available before then, we will need to adjust, because those are projects he must personally commission.”

Making a direct appeal to the region, Umahi urged residents not to be swayed by divisive narratives but to support the current administration for sustained gains.

“And so the people of the South-East ought to be very grateful to Mr President, because we have never had it like this.

“I was governor for eight years and I cannot remember this level of federal road intervention in my state. Our people know this very well.

“We should be very careful. There are people who pretend they are helping us, but they are actually inciting us against the government and the nation.

“We must be wise enough to know when people are pretending and when they are genuinely interested in our progress,” he further stated.

He added that while agitation for political inclusion is understandable, the region must act with foresight.

“It’s not as if agitation is wrong, but let us allow this man who has started correcting the wrongs done to the South-East in the past to continue. Let us give him the next four years, and then we will be fully integrated,” Umahi stated.

Highlighting ongoing projects, the minister described the Enugu–Onitsha road as one of the most critical routes in the region, noting that years of neglect had made it dangerous for commuters.

“This road, Enugu–Onitsha, is one of the most important routes for the people of the South-East. When we came on board, people were talking about this road every day.

“There were tanker accidents, loss of lives and serious challenges. But my joy is that all that is becoming a thing of the past because the President has taken decisive action,” he said.

Umahi explained that the project spans 214 kilometres and that a significant portion is being reconstructed using concrete to ensure durability.

“I have no confidence in asphalt. About 50 per cent of this road will be done on concrete so that even if asphalt fails, a substantial part of the road will remain intact,” he said.

Reinforcing his position, the minister emphasised that the infrastructure push is part of a nationwide effort.

“There is no discrimination. The same quality you see in Lagos-Calabar is what we are bringing here. This is a national infrastructure revolution,” he added.

He assured that the projects would significantly improve mobility and economic activities, insisting that continued support for the administration would consolidate the gains already being recorded in the South-East.

On the Enugu-Onitsha Road, he said the section of the road, which has reached an advanced stage of completion, would be opened on or before March 31.

According to him, the directive was part of the Federal Government’s commitment to providing immediate relief to road users while ensuring long-term infrastructure durability.

He noted that the Enugu–Onitsha and Enugu–Port Harcourt corridors are among the most strategic routes in the Southeast, historically plagued by traffic congestion, tanker accidents, and deteriorating pavement conditions.

The Minister expressed optimism that ongoing reconstruction efforts would permanently reverse the trend.

“The complaints about bad roads are becoming a thing of the past,” Umahi stated, attributing the progress to the infrastructure drive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister revealed that the Enugu–Port Harcourt dual carriageway, spanning approximately 214 kilometres, is being redesigned to incorporate concrete pavement on at least 50 per cent of its length, a departure from the traditional asphalt approach.

He explained that the shift is intended to enhance road longevity and reduce maintenance costs.

On funding, Umahi acknowledged that inherited liabilities estimated at over N13 trillion across more than 2,000 projects as of May 2023 have posed significant challenges.

Despite this, he said the President has directed that payments be prioritised for ongoing projects, including those in the Southeast.

He admitted that delayed payments have affected contractors’ pace of work but expressed confidence that progress would accelerate once funds are disbursed. “You cannot expect optimal performance when contractors are unpaid, but we appreciate their continued trust in government,” he said.

Highlighting intergovernmental collaboration, Umahi commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, for supporting federal projects, particularly the Abakpa flyover project.

He disclosed that the state government contributed to compensation payments and facilitated the relocation of critical utilities, including high-tension power lines and water pipelines.

The Abakpa Junction Interchange, a major flyover project designed to ease traffic congestion within Enugu metropolis, is currently at the foundation stage.