Umahi: Tinubu’s Infrastructure Projects Are Ending South-East Marginalisation

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is addressing the long-standing marginalisation of the South-East through inclusive governance and extensive infrastructure projects.

Umahi spoke during an inspection of the ongoing Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway, describing the project as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming infrastructure across the region and the country.

The minister said his appointment by President Tinubu was a deliberate decision aimed at advancing the President’s vision and ensuring that the South-East was brought closer to the centre of national development.

He said the Federal Government was already making arrangements to compensate property owners whose buildings and other assets would be affected by the highway project.

According to him, the President had directed that compensation issues must not become an obstacle to the delivery of critical road infrastructure.

Umahi said the Federal Government had therefore decided to step in and pay compensation in locations where state governments could not meet the obligation.

He disclosed that some affected property owners, including those in Abaomege, had already received compensation. He also praised Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru for paying compensation for properties affected by the Onueke flyover.

“There was this policy of the Federal Government in the past administration that we will do the roads while governors pay compensation.

“Graciously, Ebonyi Governor paid compensation at Onueke for that flyover and I thank him very seriously for that. Not all the governors accepted to make that sacrifice,” Umahi said.

The minister explained that the Federal Government changed its approach after some state governments resisted the payment of compensation, stressing that road construction could not be allowed to suffer because of the issue.

He cited Lagos State, where about N18 billion had reportedly been paid in compensation for affected properties to accelerate major road projects.

“We paid N18 billion in Lagos State. So, why will it come to this area and we will not do the same thing? I can assure that we will pay,” he said.

Umahi also revealed that about N168 million had been paid as compensation in another affected area, while properties affected by the proposed Ukwuachi flyover and the road connecting the area to Benue State would also be compensated.

He said an initial assessment of affected properties produced a compensation estimate of about N6 billion, but ordered a review because paying the full amount could reduce the funds available for actual road construction.

“They have done the enumeration which came to about N6 billion. If we pay N6 billion, we will not have money to build the road. So, I said they should review it and as soon as they review it, within 72 hours, I will approve for them to be paid,” he said.

Umahi said the payment of compensation would help prevent disputes and other challenges capable of delaying the project.

Beyond compensation, the minister stressed the wider economic and security significance of the superhighway, saying the road would strengthen connectivity, facilitate commerce and improve security along the corridor.

“My task is to expose the realities of our situation in South-East under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Umahi said.

“Look at the beautiful roads we are passing through. Do you think about the security improvement on this corridor? Do you think about the economic viability on this corridor? Do you think about the commerce?”

He said the projects underway across the South-East showed that the Tinubu administration was committed to infrastructure development across the region.

“When Sokoto becomes very close to Ebonyi, when Calabar becomes very close to Kebbi, when the marginalisation of South-East has become a thing of the past, should we not be bold enough to tell the story?” he asked.

Umahi also pointed to the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road, saying one carriageway had been completed and construction of the second was ongoing.

He said the scale of infrastructure development under the Tinubu administration had effectively turned states across the country into construction sites.

The minister disclosed that the section of the superhighway from Ndibe Beach through Timber Shade, Onueke, Ezza South and Ezza North to Ebonyi Local Government Area is approximately 125.5 kilometres.

Some sections, he said, were being upgraded to dual carriageways, including an 8.9-kilometre realignment designed to bypass Afikpo town.

He added that the second carriageway was being designed to connect with other legacy projects of the Tinubu administration.

At Abaomege, about two kilometres of the road was being dualised as part of efforts to improve the town’s appearance and economic significance.

Umahi identified the Ezza people among the major beneficiaries of the project, citing the Onueke flyover currently under construction and the planned Ukwuachi flyover.

He urged residents to recognise the government’s efforts and support the administration.

According to him, the first section of the superhighway will span about 123.5 kilometres from Cross River through Ebonyi to the Benue boundary.

The second section, covering about 168 kilometres, will run through Benue, parts of Enugu and Kogi before terminating at Wote in Nasarawa State and connecting to Abuja.

Umahi said the completed project would transform transportation, security and commercial activities along the corridor while strengthening connections between communities and states.

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