Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has said that several major road projects conceived during the colonial era but abandoned for decades are now being realised under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Umahi disclosed on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Ebonyi State, while leading senior journalists and government officials on an inspection tour of key federal infrastructure projects in the South-East.
The minister described the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway as one of the administration’s most strategic projects, noting that it would benefit the South-East, South-South and parts of the North-Central region.
According to him, the highway was a long-forgotten colonial-era vision that had 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.
He disclosed that Section One of the project, originally designed as a 118-kilometre stretch, had been extended to 123.6 kilometres and awarded at a cost of ₦45 billion, with dualisation works currently in progress.
Umahi further revealed that Section Two, extending from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa State, had been awarded at a contract sum of ₦668 billion.
The minister said work had attained about 28 per cent completion in some sections despite the rainy season, attributing the progress to the adoption of concrete pavement technology.
Describing the highway as more than a transportation project, Umahi said it would serve as an economic corridor capable of boosting trade in agricultural products such as cassava, yam, cashew and palm oil from Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi states while strengthening Nigeria’s connectivity with Cameroon.
“The Trans-Sahara Superhighway is not just a road; it is an investment corridor that will catalyse trade and economic growth,” he said.
He added that the concrete road technology first introduced by President Tinubu during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State was now being deployed across the country.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the South-East, Umahi said the region was witnessing a level of inclusion it had long sought.
“All our forefathers sought—inclusiveness—we have it now,” he stated.
During the inspection tour, the minister, alongside the Acting Federal Controller of Works in Ebonyi State, Engr. Maxwell Okoh, and the Project Manager of Infiouest International Limited, Mohammed Mustafa, visited key infrastructure sites, including critical bridges on Section One of the superhighway and concrete pavement works around Onueke.
The team also inspected the 1.3-kilometre Ndi-Egbe Bridge in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, which links the state with Ugep in Cross River State and is expected to be completed by December 2026.
Umahi said the ongoing Onueke Flyover project, valued at ₦35 billion, was designed to ease traffic congestion along the corridor. He noted that the flyover rises 90 metres high and is supported by 2.2 kilometres of access roads on both sides.
The delegation further inspected the completed concrete pavement link road connecting communities in Ebonyi and Cross River states, including the Okposi-Ukawu axis in Ohaozara Local Government Area and the Ugwulangu-Abaomege corridor in Cross River State.
Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru said the state remained the safest in Nigeria, claiming that no kidnapping incident had been recorded since he assumed office.
Speaking while receiving the media delegation in Abakaliki, Nwifuru commended President Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructure development in the South-East and for supporting numerous development projects in Ebonyi State.
The governor highlighted ongoing investments in rural roads, primary healthcare centres and water schemes across the state.
“We have kept contractors busy in the state with projects spread across every local government area, from rural roads to primary health centres and water schemes,” he said.
Nwifuru also disclosed that South-East governors and political leaders would converge on Abakaliki on Monday for a major rally to endorse President Tinubu for a second term in office.
Umahi said the rally would be led by Governor Nwifuru and would provide an opportunity for the people of Ebonyi State to express appreciation to the President for his administration’s developmental initiatives.
The media tour was organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, led by Governor Hope Uzodimma, in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.
Led by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, the delegation is currently undertaking its second regional inspection tour after an earlier visit to the North-West.
The team is expected to continue its inspection of projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda in Enugu, Abia, Anambra and Imo states.
