By Nkechi Eze
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has described the flagship road projects of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as strategic national investments aimed at transforming Nigeria’s infrastructure and economic landscape for generations.
Umahi made the remarks on March 13, 2026, during an extensive inspection of federal road projects across the South-East, including projects around Afikpo.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Francis Nwaze, the minister said the President’s legacy road projects are designed not merely as transportation routes but as durable national assets that will support economic growth and regional integration.
He explained that the four major legacy road initiatives of the administration are interconnected and built with reinforced concrete technology intended to last over a century without the need for maintenance.
“All the four legacy projects of the President are interconnected. They will last a hundred years. No maintenance,” Umahi said.
The minister noted that the projects represent a significant shift from traditional asphalt road construction to more durable concrete highways capable of withstanding long-term usage and environmental pressures.
Citing the ongoing Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway as an example, Umahi said the project has attracted strong private sector interest, with investors already seeking rights to toll sections of the road and repay the Federal Government’s investment.
“That’s why I continue to say that Mr President is a very strategic personality and that these legacy projects are not just road construction. They are investments,” he stated.
Umahi also urged critics of the administration to engage constructively, stressing that national development requires responsible discourse and patriotism.
“Those criticizing us should criticize constructively. We have a duty to continue to offer explanations. There should be some elements of patriotism. Opposition does not mean that we talk without knowledge,” he said.
He further challenged political critics to examine their past records before questioning the performance of the current administration, particularly as discussions around the 2027 elections gather momentum.
“When people say they want to take over government in 2027, the question is: what have they done with the opportunities Nigerians gave them before? Compare that to what President Bola Tinubu is doing now,” he added.
Highlighting the scale of ongoing infrastructure development nationwide, the minister stated that major road construction projects are currently underway across every region of the country.
“There is no part of this country where major road construction is not going on. Not just asphalt. We are putting concrete that will last a hundred years,” he said.
During the inspection, Umahi also provided updates on several road projects in the South-East, including a road initiative under the Dangote tax credit scheme covering parts of Ebonyi and Abia states.
He explained that the original plan for a 60-kilometre dual carriageway project valued at N103 billion had to be restructured due to rising construction costs, following a policy decision by the Federal Executive Council not to increase existing contract sums.
Instead, the project was redesigned to deliver a 12-metre-wide reinforced concrete carriageway covering 60 kilometres from Afikpo through Uturu to Okigwe, with an additional nine kilometres extending from the Amasiri axis, bringing the total length to 69 kilometres.
The project, he said, is being handled by HiTech Construction Company, the same firm executing major national projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Lagos–Badagry Expressway.
Umahi acknowledged that the pace of work on the project had initially been slow but assured that corrective measures had been taken after the management responsible for the delay was replaced.
He also highlighted ongoing works around Ndibe Beach and Eke Market while explaining the engineering challenges posed by dense commercial and residential developments along parts of the corridor. According to him, the ministry is considering a bypass solution to minimise disruption to businesses, churches and residential properties.
The minister further revealed that the Calabar–Abuja super highway corridor forms a key component of the administration’s long-term infrastructure strategy. The project, he explained, will run from Calabar through Ndibe Beach, Afikpo, Amasiri–Akpoha, Onueke, Ezza South and Ezza North before linking to Ukwuachi.
He noted that the first section of the corridor covers about 125.35 kilometres with an estimated contract sum of N454 billion, adding that 30 percent of the project funding has already been released by the President.
Umahi said the highway will eventually extend through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa states before terminating in Abuja, forming part of a broader national road network aimed at enhancing mobility, boosting commerce and strengthening regional integration.
The minister also commended contractors handling the projects, praising their adherence to engineering standards and commitment to quality delivery.
