By JKNewsMedia
LONG ABANDONED road projects conceived during the colonial era are being brought to life under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi has said.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that, speaking in Ebonyi State on Saturday while conducting senior journalists and government officials on a tour of the administration’s legacy projects,
Umahi also highlighted the Calabar Ebonyi Benue Trans Sahara Superhighway as a project of strategic importance to the South-East, South-South and parts of the North Central region.
“It is a colonial era dream long forgotten, but President Tinubu has revived it, and construction is now underway. We must thank him immensely,” he said.
Umahi said Section One of the project, initially 118 kilometres, had been extended to 123.6 kilometres with a contract sum of ₦45 billion, while dualisation works were ongoing.
He said Section Two, running from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa, had been awarded at a cost of ₦668 billion.
The minister said the project had attained about 28 per cent completion in some areas, with work continuing during the rainy season through the use of concrete road technology adopted by President Tinubu.
“The Trans-Sahara Superhighway is not just a road; it is an investment corridor that will catalyse trade in agricultural produce like cassava, yams, cashews, and palm oil from Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi, while also connecting Nigeria to Cameroon,” Umahi said.
He added that concrete road technology pioneered by President Tinubu as governor was now being deployed nationwide.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the South-East, Umahi said: “All our forefathers sought, inclusiveness, we have it now.”
During the tour, Umahi, Acting Federal Controller in Ebonyi State Engr. Maxwell Okoh and Mohammed Mustafa, Project Manager of Infiouest International Limited, inspected critical bridges in Section One and the concrete pavement on the Onueke section.
The team also inspected the 1.3 kilometre Ndi Egbe Bridge in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, which links Ugep in Cross River State and is expected to be completed by December 2026.
On the Onueke Flyover in Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, Umahi said the N35 billion project was designed to decongest the highway.
He stated that the flyover stands 90 metres high and is flanked by a 2.2 kilometre road on both sides.
The minister said Section Two of the Superhighway, awarded to Infiouest International Limited, runs from the Ebonyi border through Benue and Kogi to the Loko Oweto Bridge in Nasarawa State, covering 123.6 kilometres.
The delegation also inspected the completed concrete pavement link road between Ebonyi and Cross River states, particularly from Okposi Ukawu in Oha Zara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State to Ugwulangu Abaomege in Ugep Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru said the state remains the safest in Nigeria, with no reported kidnapping cases since he assumed office.
Receiving the media delegation in Abakaliki, Nwifuru thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructure development in the South-East, especially in Ebonyi State, and for his national renewal programme.
He also highlighted completed and ongoing projects in the state, including rural roads, primary health centres and water schemes.
“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. We do not even view the road projects as a big deal because we have road projects scattered all over the state,” he said.
South-East governors and leaders are scheduled to converge in Abakaliki on Monday at a major rally to endorse President Tinubu for a second term in office.
Director of Media and Publicity of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Dr Tunde Rahman, stated on June 14, 2026, that South-East governors and leaders would gather in Abakaliki for the rally.
Umahi said Governor Nwifuru would lead the people of Ebonyi State at the rally to show appreciation to President Tinubu and urged citizens of the state to ignore opposition politicians.
Rahman, in the release, stated that the National Media Tour is organised by the Governor Hope Uzodimma led Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.
The South-East visit is the team’s second regional tour following its North-West tour.
The delegation is led by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications.
Other members include Mr Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media; Tope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity; Mr Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media; Segun Dada, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media; Linda Akhigbe and Fred Nwabufo, Senior Special Assistants to the President on Strategic Communications; Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai and Barrister Chioma Nweze, Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement; and Dare Olude, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation.
Eventually, from Ebonyi State, the delegation will proceed to Enugu State today, Monday and later visit Abia, Anambra and Imo states to inspect projects undertaken under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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