Umahi Says Tinubu Is Reviving Abandoned South-East Road Projects

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is reviving major South-East road projects that were conceived decades ago but later abandoned.

Umahi made the comments during an inspection tour of Federal Government projects in Ebonyi State, where he said the works were being pursued under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister said the administration was giving attention to infrastructure that could improve movement, trade and connectivity across the South-East and other parts of the country.

According to the reports, Umahi linked the road push to Tinubu’s broader infrastructure programme and argued that the projects show the South-East is benefiting from federal development plans.

The Works Ministry has repeatedly said road rehabilitation and new construction are central to the government’s economic plan because transport costs affect food prices, trade, travel time and access to markets.

For the South-East, long-delayed road projects remain politically sensitive because many communities and businesses depend on inter-state routes for commerce, logistics and access to ports and major markets.

Umahi also used the inspection to defend the administration’s record in the region, saying the work being done should be judged by the projects on the ground.

The story is a fresh political and infrastructure angle because it combines federal road delivery, South-East development and the government’s attempt to sell its record in the region.

It also comes as road users and businesses continue to complain that poor highways raise travel risks, vehicle costs and the price of moving goods.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard, The Nation