Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended decades of abandoned and failed federal road projects in the Southeast, describing ongoing works as a turning point for the region’s infrastructure.
Umahi spoke after inspecting major federal highways and bridge projects across the Southeast and Southsouth, expressing satisfaction with contractors handling the Enugu–Onitsha Road and other critical corridors.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has introduced tougher engineering standards, strict timelines and new technologies to ensure durability and safety. He announced a nationwide ban on mining activities within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges, approved by the Federal Executive Council, to protect critical infrastructure.
“In line with the FEC directive, there will be no mining of any sort within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges nationwide. We are deploying patrol boats to ensure compliance,” Umahi said.
He also disclosed that CCTV surveillance systems and solar-powered streetlights would be installed on completed and strategic federal highways, beginning with major bridges. “Any completed federal highway will have CCTV, solar lights and security patrols, with a response time of no more than five minutes,” he said.
Umahi described the 107-kilometre Enugu–Onitsha Expressway as one of President Tinubu’s most critical interventions in the region, noting that the road had been abandoned by successive administrations for decades. He said sections of the highway are being reconstructed with reinforced concrete, while less damaged portions will be completed with asphalt.
“The Enugu–Onitsha Road has been a nightmare for decades. What we are seeing today is due to the audacity and determination of President Tinubu,” the minister said, adding that the first 15 kilometres of the carriageway would be completed within two weeks.
He also gave updates on the Second Niger Bridge eastern bypass and the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, assuring that major sections would be completed before 2026. Umahi warned that underperforming contractors would face contract termination, stressing that the Federal Government would not compromise on quality or timelines.
