By Sunday ABBA, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Works Engr David Umahi has affirmed that the South-east zone is having a fair share in the road infrastructure development package of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration across the country, just like each of the other five zones.
The minister made the clarification in response to a viral statement credited to one Mr Linus Anagboso (D-Big Pen) captioned: “The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South-East missing from the map?”
The South-east geopolitical zones comprises Abia, Anamabra, Ebonyi, Enugo, and Imo States.
Umahi stressed that no zone in the country, including the South-East, is marginalised in terms of road projects under the current administration.
He said, “Mr President has four legacy projects, and they cover the six geopolitical zones with the South-east zone well captured within the third project spanning Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-FCT,
totalling 465km x 2 with South East covering 231.64km x 2 and 231.64km x 1 for ₦445.8 billion, already awarded and work going on.
“Mr President has already paid ₦108 billion. What happened in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 31st July 2025 was a review of that corridor from 118kmx 1 to 231.64km x 1 for ₦445.8 billion.
“This misleading writer chose to change the narrative of my Press Briefing, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on the Trans Sahara Section 1 (Ebonyi State to Benue State border) – 123.64km at ₦445.8 billion, and deliberately chose to call it Oyo-Benue Border Road to deceive and incite Nigerians.”
In a statement signed by the minister himself, he demanded that the writer “corrects the information immediately, even if he fails to apologise”, dismissing the allegation as political and misleading.
He said to clear the doubt of those who refuse to believe that all regions of the country are being treated in fairness and equity in terms of road infrastructure development, he had directed all Ministry of Works’ zonal directors back to sites in all the six geopolitical zones across the country to compile all inherited but ongoing projects and all new ones, so that Nigerians will appreciate the tremendous works that Mr President is doing in all the regions.
“Mr President is using fair distribution of infrastructure to reunite Nigerians and renew their hope and only those who open their eyes will see the light of change in Nigeria,” the minister said.
According to the minister, under the current Tinubu-administration, 90% of abandoned projects, some awarded as far back as 2013, were all revived and now in use.
“Where is the appreciation for huge ongoing works on the Second Niger Bridge Access Roads, 2A in Delta State, valued at ₦146 billion, and 2B, in Anambra State, valued at ₦176 billion; the Enugu-Onitsha Road -208km ( MTN Tax Credit, which is valued at ₦ 202 billion; and the remaining section being completed by CBC Nig. Limited at ₦150 billion of which ₦45 billion was released last week); the Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway in four sections; Enugu-Abakaliki; Afikpo-Abia-Imo; Onitsha-Owerri-Aba; Aba-Ikot Ekpene; Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Roads among others?” the minister queried.
Umahi who is from the same South-east zone and the immediate past governor of Ebonyi State urged the people to rise in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the love and fairness show them.
“Mr President must have the votes of the South East up to 90% to cement this relationship. We must rise to educate our people. If we want to be President, we must avoid the politics of hate, misinformation, and sentiments.
“We must support other zones and with God, one day others will support us. Mr President must be supported to complete his tenure of 8 years, which all regions are benefiting from.
“I commend our leaders, the South-east governors, for their support and the great works they are doing for our people. I urge our people to support them, along with our dear President, for a second tenure in their respective offices,” he concluded.