Engr. David Umahi, Federal Minister for Works on Thursday, March 2, 2026, officially opened a completed section of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to improving road infrastructure across the Southeast and Nigeria in general under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister speaking during the event, pondered on the past condition of the road and its importance to the region, and urged the people of the region to give president Bola Tinubu 80% votes in 2027 as a thank you reward.
Umahi explains that the project, which was initially under a tax credit arrangement involving MTN Nigeria and executed by RCC, had stalled before quick intervention from the President.
“The journey of Enugu to Onitsha was taking about 7 hours before 2023. The most important road in South East is this road. We inherited this road under Tax credit of MTN and executed for them by RCC but everything was on stand still until I went to plead with President Tinubu.”
According to the Minister, the President’s intervention brought renewed direction and improved construction standards:
“The President didn’t only give acceleration to the construction of this road but he directed that at least 50% of it must be on concrete and like that of Lagos Calabar coastal Highway.”
Umahi said that the project had earlier been awarded without significant progress before the current administration reviewed and restructured it and highlighted the scale of commitment and equally provided updates on the current status.
“The project was awarded before the coming of President Tinubu with no meaningful progress made. We reviewed it and allow MTN to continue with their contract sum excluding 72KM.
“It takes a lot of courage to do what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing. The entire road is being reconstructed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The first 50km of reinforced concrete pavement is about 97% completed but the President directed me to come and open the road so that the people of SouthEast will not suffer during the Easter period and that why I am here to open the first 15km of the road.”
He further outlined several ongoing and completed road projects across the Southeast, stressing that the third legacy project is connecting southeast to Abuja in less than 4 hours.
“The section of that project is going on in southeast, 123km, 455b and it’s being done in reinforced concrete pavement. That is not enough, we have Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe, 64km, it’s being reconstructed under Dangote Tax credit, 193b, concret work is ongoing.
“The Aba Ikot Ekpene Road, 1 Carriageway is completed, the second one is being engaged. Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene is 95 percent done. The Umuahia – Aba being executed by Arab contractors is 99% done.
“The Owerri-Aba road, being constructed by Arab contractors is 70% done. The second Niger By Pass, 17.5km with multiple bridge and flyovers, 174b, being done by CGC, that work is ongoing, 30% being paid for. The Enugu-Abakaliki, 183b, 30% fully paid, that project is ongoing.
“You come to multiple section, Enugu to Portharcourt. First section from Enugu being done by CGC, 60km dualized, about 70% of that project is done. We have directed that the remaining project of about 64km should be done on concrete. That is being done by CGC and that is 100b.
“You come to the Setraco section, 99% finished. You come to the Arab contractors from Umuahia to Aba, 99% finished. Infact, we have to change the section in Aba, the last lane to be on concrete.
“You come to Aba to Portharcourt, it’s being done by CCECC, one full carriageway done, second carriageway redesigned to be done on concrete.
“Time will fail us to say all that the President is doing in SouthEast. Owerri – Onitsha, that project is ongoing by CGC.
“You come to one of the biggest Flyover in the country at Ekeobinagu, that project is 99% done. It’s almost 1km of Flyover. You all witnesses to the quality and the beauty and it’s for the President to commission it,” Umahi said.
Speaking on some key emergency interventions, Umahi talked about the two bridges that collapsed at Artisan section of Enugu State, within 9 months, the President reconstructed them with solar light.
Speaking on regional development and inclusion, the Minister stated that when he boldly said that the Biafra Igbos are looking for is here and that’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“In 2027, the people of SouthEast must be very strategic. We want these projects to be completed. God already told me, you know this is David, the only man that is both Priest and king. And God has told me that President Tinubu will win again, he will win again
“It’s important that our people are strategic. We will not mount the seat of presidency by foul language, by mere wish, nobody will give it to us. We have to be strategic.”
Umahi said he will not stop telling the southeast, that no matter who has the presidential ticket of other political parties, Southeast people must be strategic to support the president.
Speaking on the concerns about marginalization, he noted that the marginalization Igbos were talking about, are over, for the first time, as their own son is Minister of Works.
Speaking to leaders of South East, Umahi pleaded with them that the region needs to be vocal in telling the people what the president is doing for them.
“We never had service chiefs before but this administration, we have two, one before and one now. So, all the marginalization we are talking about is over now. It may not be 100% but the president have just begun. And so we have to support him.
“Yes, South East deserves to be president but in 2023, we gave that right, Southern president to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We all met in Asaba, all the Southern Governors and we said it’s our turn, Emilokan, Emilokan will be over in 2031.
“My mouth will not close in telling the people of South East, in leading them, in appealing to them for us to be wise. Anybody that is not supporting who you are supporting, you start attacking them, what sort of politics is that? We vote for our brother in SouthWest, when it’s our turn, they will vote for us, that’s the strategy.”
On the economy and governance, he said that the president has done extremely very well. “You have to understand the kind of economy Mr. President inherited but the macro economy are all breathing very very well. They are all alive, the worst is over, the president is dealing with the micro economy.
“When you talk about fuel economy and so on and so forth, strategic meeting was held yesterday on how to handle the unfortunate incident of the Iran war which has brought hardship on our people, so, the president is not asleep on this.”
He further called on regional leaders, he said, “I want our leader the Governor of Imo State to charge all the leaders of South East to be very vocal about supporting the President. We will not support the President keeping quiet. Leaders must meet. We must collectively proclaim what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing for us.
“And I am bold to say that all the Governors of southeast are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But we have to take it down to our supporters, let them know what the president is doing for us. Let them know that when we appreciate what he has done for us, he will do more for us.
“Governance is about development. Governance is about infrastructure. Governance is about fairness, equality and justice.
“For the first time, we are part of being at the helm of affairs. As we are developing other regions through the support, finances, leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, South East for the first time is not left behind.”
Umahi concluded by remarking on leadership courage, and ongoing work, and said, “Even if our son becomes president at the right time, unless people like me and many people like me who get courage, I get courage, I don’t fear, that’s the only person that can attempt to do what the president is doing for us. Not anybody.”
“I have directed on this road to review all the failed asphalt sections on this road so that we can review it. I have directed full solar light from Enugu to Onitsha. I have directed full tree planting from Enugu to Onitsha.”
