By LYDIA CHIGOZIE-NGWAKWE

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has dismissed as false and misleading a publication by one Linus Anagboso (known as D-Big Pen) which claimed that the South East was neglected in road infrastructure development.

This is contained in a statement by Mohammed Ahmed, Director, Press and Public, in the Ministry and made available to newsmen on Monday.

Umahi said that the publication titled “The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East Missing from the Map?” was mischievous and deceptive.

He demanded ”hat Anagboso retract the statement immediately.

According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu has been fair to all regions of the country, including the South East.

He noted that Tinubu had revived 90 per cent of abandoned road projects, some dating back to 2013, and still executing new ones without discrimination.

He also said that four Legacy Projects were approved to cover all six geo-political zones.

According to him, one of them, which runs from Cross River through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa to Abuja, includes a significant portion in the South East; about 231.64 kilometres and is already awarded at a cost of N445.8 billion.

The minister further said that the last Federal Executive Council meeting approved the review of the corridor length to 231.64 km at the same contract sum.

He added that Anagboso deliberately misrepresented this as an Oyo-Benue road to mislead the public.

He listed major projects ongoing in the South East to include the Second Niger Bridge Access Roads; Section 2A in Delta (N146 billion) and Section 2B in Anambra (N176 billion).

Other major ongoing projects the minister said were the Enugu-Onitsha Road (208 km), with MTN Tax Credit funding of N202 billion and CBC handling the remaining sections for N150 billion.

“There is also the Enugu–Port Harcourt Road in four sections; Enugu-Abakaliki, Afikpo-Abia-Imo, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, and Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene,” he said..

Umahi urged the people of the South East to support Tinubu, noting that his administration had shown fairness and love to the region.

He also commended the South East governors for supporting the Federal Government and urged citizens to stand by them as they work for their second term in office.

According to him, One day, the South East will produce the President of Nigeria, but not in 2027.

He reaffirmed his commitment to correcting any false claims meant to deceive the people. (NAN)