By Amaka Okafor
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged the people of the Southeast to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying the region is witnessing unprecedented federal infrastructure development under the current administration.
He made the appeal on Friday while inspecting the Ebonyi section of the Cross River–Abuja Super Highway, one of the Federal Government’s flagship legacy road projects.
Umahi maintained that no previous administration had invested as much in the Southeast as the Tinubu administration, stressing that the ongoing road projects were transforming the region through improved connectivity, job creation and economic growth. According to him, the projects have positioned the Southeast as a major beneficiary of federal infrastructure development.
“My assignment is to beg, appeal and educate Nigerians on what the President is doing. People should know that President Tinubu means well for this country. Everything cannot be corrected in three years, but he is making very serious efforts and Nigerians should acknowledge the giant strides being recorded in different sectors,” the minister said.
Defending the administration’s infrastructure drive, Umahi said thousands of Nigerians had secured direct and indirect employment through the ongoing road projects, noting that workers, transporters, food vendors, suppliers of construction materials and cement manufacturers were all benefiting from the massive investments. He added that the adoption of reinforced concrete pavement was stimulating industrial growth by increasing demand for locally produced cement.
The minister also defended the Federal Government’s borrowing policy, insisting that the loans were being channelled into capital projects that would benefit future generations rather than recurrent expenditure. “The President is not borrowing to buy vehicles or pay salaries. He is borrowing for infrastructure, and every nation borrows to develop critical infrastructure. These investments will serve generations to come,” he stated.
On the 2027 presidential race, Umahi urged political leaders in the Southeast to embrace strategic politics, arguing that the region alone could not determine who becomes Nigeria’s President. Referring to Peter Obi, he said, “Our brother, Peter Obi, is contesting for the presidency of the entire country, not the presidency of the Southeast. The voice of the Southeast alone cannot produce a President. We must be strategic. We should not insult people because they hold different political opinions.”
Providing an update on the highway project, Umahi disclosed that Section One of the Cross River–Abuja Legacy Highway, spanning about 125 kilometres, was nearing completion, with more than 30 per cent of the alignment passing through Ebonyi communities. He added that Section Two, covering about 168 kilometres across Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu and Kogi states, had also been mobilised following the payment of 30 per cent mobilisation funds to the contractor. He directed contractors to employ more local workers to maximise benefits for host communities.
The minister expressed confidence that the completed highway would drastically reduce travel time between the Southeast and the Federal Capital Territory, saying residents of Ebonyi would be able to reach Abuja in about three hours, while those from Enugu could complete the journey in roughly two hours. He further assured Nigerians that all of President Tinubu’s legacy road projects, including the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, would be completed, with the latter expected to feature solar-powered streetlights, landscaping and tolling facilities before its projected completion in December.
Responding to controversies surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi dismissed allegations that the alignment was altered to favour private interests, explaining that engineering and geotechnical investigations necessitated the final route because of deep peat soil along parts of the coastline. He also announced immediate intervention on flood-prone federal roads in Ondo State through the reconstruction of damaged drainage infrastructure.
Reaffirming his support for President Tinubu, the minister appealed to Ebonyi residents to deliver overwhelming votes for the APC in 2027, insisting that the state had become one of the greatest beneficiaries of the administration’s infrastructure agenda.
