By Israel Mbam
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has said the infrastructure and other projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Southeast region will speak for him in the forthcoming general election in 2027. Engr Umahi who declared that the Southeast region would continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ administration, stated this while inspecting ongoing Federal Government projects in some parts of Ebonyi State.
He noted that President Tinubu has significantly addressed many of the developmental concerns raised by the people of the region and deserves their overwhelming votes in 2027.
The Minister stated that the decision to support the President was based on strategic considerations and visible developmental efforts rather than sentiment, emphasizing that governance and elections require careful planning and tangible results.
According to him, the Southeast people should appreciate the efforts of the Tinubu administration, particularly in the area of infrastructural development, which he described as critical to commerce, education and the general wellbeing of the people.
“We in the Southeast will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This presidency is not built on sentiments but on strategic planning. The President has substantially addressed many of the issues that concern our people,” he said.
The minister challenged critics within the region to engage in constructive debate, maintaining that the administration had made remarkable progress despite not solving every issue completely.
Umahi particularly highlighted several ongoing projects in Ebonyi State and other parts of the Southeast under the Federal Government’s infrastructure development drive.
He disclosed that one of the President’s major legacy projects, which is expected to connect the Calabar end of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to Ndibe Beach and extend through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Abuja, is progressing steadily.
According to him, the route from Calabar to the Ebonyi-Benue boundary covers approximately 123 kilometres and was originally designed as a single carriageway with a width of 12 metres.
However, he explained that the Federal Government later decided to upgrade sections of the project into a dual carriageway to improve capacity and long-term utility.
Umahi said the project would feature reinforced concrete pavement and solar-powered street lighting, with an estimated cost of about N454 billion. He added that the Federal Government had already released 50 percent of the project funding.
He further explained that work is progressing simultaneously across multiple sections of the route, noting that contractors are deploying heavy equipment and modern construction technology.
“We have seen contractors working in more than ten different sections with equipment never before experienced in Ebonyi State,” he said.
The minister also revealed that the second phase of the road project has commenced, stretching about 178 kilometres from the Ebonyi-Benue boundary through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States.
He stated that while the current contract is for a single carriageway valued at approximately N685 billion, plans are underway for procurement of a second carriageway to align with other legacy projects of the administration.
Umahi also expressed satisfaction with ongoing flyover projects in Ebonyi State, including works at Onueke and other strategic locations.
He praised contractors handling the projects, noting the quality and pace of work being delivered.
Speaking on the Onueke flyover project, Umahi said foundation works had already reached about 60 percent completion and expressed optimism that the project could be delivered before the end of the year.
He also mentioned ongoing dualisation works around the airport bridge and timber market axis, describing the projects as part of broader efforts aimed at improving transportation infrastructure and boosting economic activities within the state.
The minister maintained that the Federal Government remains committed to completing the projects and expanding infrastructure development across the region.
