By Nkechi Eze
The Honorable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, on Thursday officially opened a completed section of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to improving road infrastructure across the Southeast and Nigeria in general under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In an official signed statement, the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works, Francis Nwaze, disclosed that the minister spoke during the event on April 2, 2026, reflecting on the previous condition of the road and its importance to the region.
“The journey of Enugu to Onitsha was taking about 7 hours before 2023. The most important road in South East is this road,” Umahi said.
He explained that the project was originally undertaken under a tax credit arrangement involving MTN Nigeria and executed by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), but progress stalled before the intervention of President Tinubu.
“We inherited this road under Tax credit of MTN and executed for them by RCC but everything was on stand still until I went to plead with President Tinubu,” he said.
According to the minister, the president’s intervention not only accelerated work on the project but also introduced improved construction standards.
“The President didn’t only give acceleration to the construction of this road but he directed that atleast 50 percent of it must be on concrete and like that of Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway,” he stated.
Umahi added that the project had earlier been awarded before the current administration but recorded no meaningful progress until it was reviewed and restructured.
“The project was awarded before the coming of President Tinubu with no meaningful progress made. We reviewed it and allowed MTN to continue with their contract sum excluding 72KM,” he said.
Highlighting the progress achieved so far, the minister disclosed that the first 50 kilometres of reinforced concrete pavement is about 97 percent completed.
“The first 50km of reinforced concrete pavement is about 97% completed but the President directed me to come and open the road so that the people of SouthEast will not suffer during the Easter period and that why I am here to open the first 15km of the road,” he explained.
Umahi also outlined several ongoing and completed road projects across the Southeast, including a major legacy project aimed at connecting the region to Abuja in less than four hours. According to him, a 123-kilometre section of the project is currently ongoing in the Southeast at a cost of ₦455 billion using reinforced concrete pavement.
He further disclosed that the 64-kilometre Afikpo–Uturu–Okigwe road is being reconstructed under the tax credit scheme financed by the Dangote Group, owned by Aliko Dangote, at a cost of ₦193 billion, with concrete work already ongoing.
The minister added that the Aba–Ikot Ekpene Road has one carriageway completed while work is ongoing on the second carriageway. He said the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene road project is 95 percent completed, while the Umuahia–Aba road being executed by Arab contractors is 99 percent done. The Owerri–Aba road, also handled by Arab contractors, has reached about 70 percent completion.
Providing further updates, Umahi said the Second Niger Bypass project, a 17.5-kilometre road with multiple bridges and flyovers valued at ₦174 billion, is being executed by China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) and has received about 30 percent payment so far.
He noted that the Enugu–Abakaliki road project valued at ₦183 billion has also received 30 percent payment and work is ongoing.
The minister also spoke about several sections of the Enugu–Port Harcourt road project. He said the first 60 kilometres from Enugu, being dualised by CGC, is about 70 percent completed, while the remaining 64 kilometres have been directed to be constructed using reinforced concrete pavement.
According to him, the Setraco section of the project is 99 percent completed, while the section from Umuahia to Aba being handled by Arab contractors is also 99 percent finished. He added that the Aba–Port Harcourt section being handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) already has one full carriageway completed, while the second carriageway has been redesigned to be constructed with concrete pavement.
Umahi further disclosed that the Owerri–Onitsha road project is ongoing, while one of the largest flyovers in the country at Ekeobinagu is about 99 percent completed and awaiting commissioning by the president.
He also referenced emergency interventions carried out by the Federal Government, including the reconstruction of two collapsed bridges at the Artisan section of Enugu within nine months, complete with solar lighting.
On the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, the minister stated that the road would be fitted with solar-powered street lights throughout its length, similar to the design being implemented on the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry corridor.
Speaking on regional development and political engagement, Umahi urged leaders and residents of the Southeast to adopt a strategic approach ahead of the 2027 elections by supporting President Tinubu.
“When I boldly say that the Biafra we are looking for is here and that’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
“In 2027, the people of SouthEast must be very strategic. We want these projects to be completed.”
He argued that political support would strengthen the region’s bargaining power in national negotiations.
“We should not be aiming to give him anything less than 80 percent. Do that and leave the rest for us. We will boldly go to negotiation table,” he said.
The minister also dismissed claims of marginalization against the Southeast, noting that the region is now playing a greater role in national governance.
“The marginalization we are talking about, it’s over, for the first time, your son is Minister of Works,” he said.
Umahi called on leaders across the Southeast to openly inform their people about the projects being delivered in the region by the federal government.
“I want to plead with leaders of SouthEast, we need to be vocal in telling the people what the president is doing for us. No more marginalization,” he said.
He emphasized that governance should translate into development, fairness, equality, and improved infrastructure.
“Governance is about development. Governance is about infrastructure. Governance is about fairness, equality and justice,” he stated.
The minister concluded by assuring residents that further improvements would continue along the Enugu–Onitsha corridor, including reviewing failed asphalt sections, installing solar lighting from Enugu to Onitsha, and planting trees along the road.
“No more trailers falling at Ugwu Onyema, no more people suffering,” he said, expressing confidence that the completed and ongoing works would significantly improve transportation and economic activities in the Southeast.
