David Umahi, minister of Works, Friday said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was gradually ending the marginalisation of the South-East through massive investment in road infrastructure and other development projects across the region.
Umahi stated this while inspecting ongoing federal road projects in Ebonyi State, where he highlighted the economic, security and commercial importance of the projects to the people of the South-East and other parts of the country.
The minister urged the people of the region and the media to acknowledge the infrastructure development taking place under the Tinubu administration, saying the impact of the projects would be felt in improved connectivity, commerce, security and job creation.
He said: “When Sokoto becomes very close to Ebonyi, when Calabar becomes very close to Kebbi, when the marginalisation of the South-East has become a thing of the past, should we not be bold enough to tell the story?”
According to him, the current administration has demonstrated a commitment to inclusive governance by opening up previously neglected areas through strategic road construction and rehabilitation.
Umahi said his appointment as Minister of Works was also part of President Tinubu’s broader intention to promote inclusiveness and bring the South-East closer to the centre of national development.
He disclosed that the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road had recorded significant progress, with one carriageway completed and work ongoing on the second, adding that several major infrastructure projects were simultaneously being executed across the South-East and other parts of the country.
He said the Federal Government had also turned virtually every state into a construction site through its infrastructure programme.
Speaking on the Ndibe Beach-Onueke-Ezza-Ebonyi route, Umahi said the project covered 125.5 kilometres, with plans for dualisation in selected sections.
According to him, an 8.9-kilometre section being realigned to bypass Afikpo was currently under construction, while the second carriageway was being designed to conform with the administration’s plan for legacy road projects.
The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government was dualising about two kilometres of the road around Abaomoge to beautify the town and improve traffic flow.
He said the project would also include major flyovers at Onueke, Ukwuachi, describing the projects as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to the Ezza nation and Ebonyi State.
“Who will say that Ezza nation is not loved?” Umahi asked, while expressing appreciation to the people for their support and cooperation with the projects.
He also urged the people to demonstrate their appreciation for the Federal Government’s infrastructure interventions through continued support for the Tinubu administration.
On the contractor handling the project, Umahi said Infoqest emerged winner through a competitive bidding process after Hitech declined to bid for the project.
He commended the contractor for the progress recorded so far, saying he was impressed by the quality and volume of work since his previous inspection of the project.
Umahi said an assessment by the ECOWAS Bank had also highlighted the project’s potential to improve security and commerce while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
The minister further disclosed that compensation had been paid to some affected property owners, particularly in Abaomoge, while commending Governor Francis Nwifuru for paying compensation for the Onueke flyover.
He said the Federal Government had taken steps to address compensation challenges that had slowed down some projects, noting that the Ministry of Works had paid billions of naira in compensation on projects in other parts of the country.
On the compensation for the Ukwuachi flyover and the road linking the area to Benue State, Umahi said the affected properties had been enumerated, but the initial assessment of about N6 billion would be reviewed to ensure that compensation could be paid without jeopardising the funds available for construction.
He assured the affected communities that once the review was completed, the compensation would be approved for payment.
Umahi said the Federal Government remained committed to completing critical road projects across the South-East, stressing that the ultimate objective was to improve connectivity, strengthen commerce, enhance security and stimulate economic growth in the region.
He therefore, called on the people of the South-East to look beyond political narratives and assess the tangible infrastructure projects being executed across the region under the Tinubu administration.
