Umahi Opens Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, Urges Southeast to Deliver 80% Votes for Tinubu

Umahi Opens Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, Urges Southeast to Deliver 80% Votes for Tinubu

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Thursday inaugurated a completed stretch of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to revamping critical infrastructure across the Southeast.

At the ceremony, Umahi said the intervention on the strategic highway was made possible by the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration, he noted, had accelerated work on projects inherited in poor condition.

“The journey from Enugu to Onitsha was taking about seven hours before 2023. This is the most important road in the Southeast,” the minister said, recalling the state of the road before the current reconstruction.

He explained that the project, initially executed under a tax credit arrangement involving MTN Nigeria, had stalled until the intervention of the President.

“We inherited this road under tax credit of MTN… but everything was on standstill until I went to plead with Mr President,” he said.

Umahi disclosed that the President not only approved the continuation of the project but also ordered a review of its design to include reinforced concrete pavement for durability.

“The President didn’t only accelerate the construction, he directed that at least 50 per cent of it must be on concrete, like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,” he said.

According to him, the first 50 kilometres of the concrete pavement is nearing completion, while the initial 15 kilometres has been opened to ease movement, particularly during the Easter period.

“The President directed me to come and open the road so that our people will not suffer during Easter, and that is why we are here,” he added.

The minister used the occasion to highlight several ongoing road projects across the Southeast, including major corridors linking the region to Abuja and other parts of the country, many of which he said were at advanced stages of completion.

He also pointed to key interventions such as the reconstruction of collapsed bridges in Enugu within nine months and the introduction of solar lighting along major highways, including the Enugu–Onitsha road.

Beyond infrastructure, Umahi made a strong political appeal to the people of the Southeast, urging them to support Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

“We should not be aiming to give him anything less than 80 per cent. Do that and leave the rest for us. We will boldly go to the negotiation table,” he said.

He called on political leaders in the region to be more vocal in communicating the Federal Government’s efforts, insisting that claims of marginalisation were no longer tenable.

“For the first time, the Southeast is not left behind. Governance is about development, infrastructure, fairness and justice,” he said.

Umahi argued that continued support for the administration would ensure the completion of ongoing projects and further integration of the region into national development plans.

“Let nobody split our votes. Let nobody mislead us. We must be strategic,” he added.

He maintained that the Tinubu administration had stabilised key aspects of the economy despite inherited challenges and was taking steps to address emerging issues affecting citizens.

The minister concluded that the opening of the road marked a significant milestone for the region, expressing optimism that ongoing projects would transform connectivity and economic activities across the Southeast.