The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said that several major road projects in Nigeria’s South-East region, originally conceived during the colonial era but left unrealised for decades, are now being implemented under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Umahi made the remarks on Saturday in Ebonyi State while leading senior journalists and government officials on an inspection tour of key infrastructure projects being executed under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister highlighted the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway as one of the most strategic projects for the South-East, South-South and parts of the North-Central regions, describing it as a long-forgotten colonial-era vision that has now been revived by the Tinubu administration.
“It is a colonial-era dream long forgotten, but President Tinubu has revived it, and construction is now underway. We must thank him immensely,” Umahi said.
According to him, Section One of the highway, originally designed to cover 118 kilometres but later extended to 123.6 kilometres, is progressing steadily with dualisation works ongoing under a ₦45 billion contract. He added that Section Two, stretching from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa State, has been awarded at a cost of ₦668 billion.
Umahi disclosed that parts of the project have already attained about 28 per cent completion despite the rainy season, attributing the progress to the adoption of concrete pavement technology.
He described the Trans-Saharan Superhighway as more than a transportation project, saying it would serve as a major investment corridor capable of boosting agricultural trade and strengthening regional connectivity.
“The Trans-Sahara Superhighway is not just a road; it is an investment corridor that will catalyse trade in agricultural produce such as cassava, yams, cashews and palm oil from Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi, while also connecting Nigeria to Cameroon,” he stated.
The minister further expressed appreciation on behalf of the South-East region, saying the administration had addressed long-standing concerns about inclusion in federal infrastructure development.
The South-East inspection tour follows a similar exercise earlier conducted in the North-West and will continue with visits to Enugu State, Abia State, Anambra State and Imo State to assess projects being executed under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
