Tinubu reviving abandoned South-East road projects, says Umahi

Nigeria's Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, announced that significant road projects in the South-East, many conceived during the colonial era and subsequently abandoned, are now being implemented under President Bola Tinubu's "Renewed Hope Agenda." This initiative aims to revitalize infrastructure and boost economic activity in the region.

One of the key projects highlighted is the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway. Umahi described it as a "colonial-era dream long forgotten" that President Tinubu has revived. The highway is expected to significantly enhance economic activities across the South-East, South-South, and parts of the North-Central regions, serving as an "investment corridor" for agricultural produce and connecting Nigeria to Cameroon.

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It is a colonial-era dream long forgotten, but President Tinubu has revived it, and construction is now underway. We must thank him immensely.

Section One of the highway, spanning 123.6 kilometers, is under construction at a cost of ₦45 billion. Section Two, connecting Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa, has been awarded for ₦668 billion and is approximately 28 percent complete in some areas. The administration's adoption of concrete road technology allows for continuous construction, even during the rainy season.

During an inspection tour in Ebonyi State, Umahi also pointed to other critical infrastructure developments, including the 1.3-kilometer Ndi-Egbe Bridge in Afikpo, slated for completion in December 2026, and the ₦35 billion Onueke Flyover project designed to alleviate traffic congestion. The minister expressed gratitude for the president's commitment to infrastructure development and regional inclusiveness in the South-East.

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The Trans-Sahara Superhighway is not just a road; it is an investment corridor that will catalyse trade in agricultural produce such as cassava, yam, cashew and palm oil from Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi, while also connecting Nigeria to Cameroon.