KEBBI GOVT DONATES 10 HILUX VEHICLES TO BOOST SECURITY ON SOKOTO–BADAGRY SUPER HIGHWAY. (PHOTOS).
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has debunked a publication claiming that the South East region has been overlooked in road infrastructure development, describing it as “false and misleading.” The statement, issued on Monday through the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, addressed a report titled “The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East Missing from the Map?” which Umahi labeled as mischievous and deceptive, demanding its immediate retraction.
Umahi emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been equitable in its infrastructure projects across all regions, including the South East. He noted that Tinubu has revived 90 percent of abandoned road projects, some dating back to 2013, and initiated new ones without regional bias. Among the highlighted initiatives are four Legacy Projects approved to cover Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including a major road spanning Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja, with 231.64 kilometers in the South East alone, awarded at a cost of N445.8 billion. The minister clarified that the Federal Executive Council recently reviewed this corridor’s length to 231.64 km at the same contract sum, refuting claims by one Anagboso that misrepresented it as an Oyo-Benue road.
Umahi listed several ongoing projects in the South East, including the Second Niger Bridge Access Roads, with Section 2A in Delta (N146 billion) and Section 2B in Anambra (N176 billion). Other projects include the Enugu-Onitsha Road (208 km), funded by MTN Tax Credit at N202 billion, with additional sections handled by CBC for N150 billion, and the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, covering sections from Enugu-Abakaliki, Afikpo-Abia-Imo, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, and Aba-Ikot Ekpene to Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene.
The minister urged South East residents to support President Tinubu, praising his fairness and commitment to the region. He also commended South East governors for backing the federal government and encouraged citizens to stand by them as they seek second terms. Umahi expressed optimism about the region’s future, stating, “One day, the South East will produce the President of Nigeria, but not in 2027.”
Reaffirming his commitment to countering misinformation, Umahi vowed to address any false narratives aimed at deceiving the public, urging media outlets to verify claims before publication.
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