By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Federal Government has 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 South-East.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Monday made the announcement during an inspection tour of ongoing federal road projects in Enugu State, expressing satisfaction with the pace and quality of work achieved so far.

Umahi said the section of the road, which has reached an advanced stage of completion, would be opened on or before March 31, even if finishing touches such as road markings and median curbs are yet to be concluded.

According to him, the directive is 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.

However, he 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.

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

Project contractor representative, Engineer Chimalo Ezeugo, said piling works are ongoing, with 15 out of the required 40 piles already completed and additional ones in progress. The project is expected to span approximately 800 metres, with a delivery timeline of one year.

Ezeugo explained that the flyover would connect key routes within the Enugu-Abakpa axis and significantly improve traffic flow, particularly in high-density areas such as Trans-Ekulu and the Government Reserved Area (GRA).

Also speaking, Resident Engineer on the Enugu–Onitsha project, Engineer Lawrence Ubi, confirmed that the 15-kilometre section is about 95 per cent complete and structurally sound. He assured that the road meets required engineering standards and is ready for use.

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