The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has stated that several road projects for the South East region, originally conceived during the colonial era but left unrealised for decades, are now being brought to life under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking on Saturday in Ebonyi State, while conducting senior journalists and government officials on a tour of the administration’s legacy projects, Senator Umahi—former Governor of Ebonyi State—highlighted the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway as a project of strategic importance to the South East, South South, and parts of the North Central region.

“It is a colonial-era dream long forgotten, but President Tinubu has revived it, and construction is now underway. We must thank him immensely,” he said.

The minister reported steady progress on the project, noting that Section One, initially 118 kilometres, has been extended to 123.6 kilometres, with a contract sum of ₦45 billion, and that dualisation works are ongoing.

According to Umahi, Section Two, which runs from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa, has also been awarded at a cost of ₦668 billion.

He noted that the project has reached about 28% completion in some areas, with work continuing even during the rainy season, thanks to President Tinubu’s adoption of concrete road technology.

“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,” Umahi explained.

He noted that the concrete road technology pioneered by President Tinubu as governor is now being deployed nationwide.

Umahi expressed the gratitude of the South East to the President for ending decades of exclusion, stating, “All our forefathers sought—inclusiveness—we have it now.”

During the tour, the team, including Senator Umahi, acting Federal Controller in Ebonyi State, Engr. Maxwell Okoh, and Mohammed Mustafa, Project Manager of Infiouest International Limited (the contractor for the Calabar-Abuja Trans-Sahara Superhighway), inspected critical bridges in Section One and the concrete pavement on the Onueke section. They also inspected the 1.3-kilometre Ndi-Egbe Bridge in Afikpo LGA, Ebonyi, which links Ugep in Cross River State and is expected to be completed by December 2026.

Regarding the Onueke Flyover in Ebonyi’s Central Senatorial District, Umahi noted that the ₦35 billion project is designed to decongest the highway. The flyover stands 90 metres high and is flanked by a 2.2-kilometre road on both sides.

The minister explained that Section Two of the Superhighway, awarded to Infiouest International Limited, runs from the Ebonyi border through Benue and Kogi to the Loko-Oweto Bridge in Nasarawa State, covering 123.6 kilometres.

The team also inspected the completed concrete pavement link road between Ebonyi and Cross River States, particularly from Okposi-Ukawu in Oha-Zara Local Government of Ebonyi and Ugwulangu-Abaomege in UGEP Ugep Local Government of Cross River State.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has declared that his state remains the safest in Nigeria, with no reported kidnapping cases since he assumed office.

While receiving the media delegation in Abakaliki, Governor Nwifuru thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructure development in the South East, especially in Ebonyi, and for his national renewal programme. He also highlighted numerous completed and ongoing projects in the state, including rural roads, primary health 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. We do not even view the road projects as a big deal because we have road projects scattered all over the state.”

South-East governors and leaders are scheduled to converge on Abakaliki on Monday at a mammoth rally to endorse President Tinubu for a second term in office.

South East governors and leaders are scheduled to converge in Abakaliki on Monday at a major rally to endorse President Tinubu for a second term. Umahi said Governor Nwifuru would lead the people of Ebonyi State at the rally to show appreciation to President Tinubu. He urged Ebonyi citizens to ignore the ranting of opposition politicians who cannot match President Tinubu’s record.

The National Media Tour is organised by the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led Renewed Hope Ambassadors, in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.

The visit to the South East is the team’s second regional tour, following the team’s North West tour. The delegation is led by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications.

Other team members include Mr. Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media; Tope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity; Mr. Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media; Segun Dada, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media; Linda Akhigbe and Fred Nwabufo, Senior Special Assistants to the President on Strategic Communications; Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai and Barrister Chioma Nweze, Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement; and Dare Olude, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation.

From Ebonyi, the team will proceed to Enugu State on Monday, and later to Abia, Anambra, and Imo States to inspect the projects undertaken under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Update news