By Ashiru Taofeek Adewale
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has opened for traffic the completed 15km sections of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, declaring that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win the 2027 election on the strength of his administration’s achievements.
Speaking at the event, Mr Umahi said the completion of the road has ended the notorious seven-hour journey between Enugu and Onitsha and put an end to years of no meaningful infrastructural development in the South-East.
The minister urged South-East governors to market and showcase Mr Tinubu’s achievements in the zone, as well as mobilise support for the president’s reelection in 2027. He called on the people of the South-East to vote massively for Mr Tinubu to enable the completion of all projects currently nearing completion across the zone.
Mr Umahi recalled that before the current administration, the critical highway – considered one of the busiest routes in the South-East – had deteriorated significantly. He noted that the project, originally awarded years before 2023, had suffered prolonged delays with little progress.
According to the minister, the federal government intervened to accelerate construction, restructuring the contract and introducing reinforced concrete pavement on key sections to ensure durability. He explained that while part of the project remains under its original contractor, a 72-kilometre stretch is now being rebuilt using high-quality concrete technology designed to last between 50 and 100 years with minimal maintenance.
Mr Umahi disclosed that the total cost of reconstructing the road now stands at over ₦350 billion, combining both the existing contract and the newly reviewed sections. He added that the first 15 kilometres of concrete pavement are nearly completed and have been opened to ease traffic ahead of the Easter season.
He emphasised that additional sections – spanning 18 kilometres and 39 kilometres respectively are at various stages of completion, with directives issued to ensure uniform construction standards across the route.
The minister praised President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure in the South-East, stating that multiple road projects across the region are currently ongoing. These include major corridors linking Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha, as well as the Second Niger Bridge access roads and other federal highways.
He further highlighted broader federal investments, such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and other legacy projects, which he said would improve connectivity between the South-East and other parts of the country.
Mr Umahi also pointed to ongoing reconstruction of additional roads under various funding arrangements, including tax credit schemes and direct federal funding, noting that many of these projects are nearing completion.
While acknowledging public concerns about other unfinished road sections, the minister insisted that work is ongoing and urged Nigerians to verify progress on-site rather than relying on outdated reports.
He said the Enugu–Onitsha road project would be fully completed by 2026, describing it as a transformative development that would significantly reduce travel time, improve safety, and boost economic activities across the region.
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