FG not interested in Nkalagu-Nsukka road - Umahi

The Minister for Works, Engr. Dave Umahi has disclosed federal government's lack of interest in the completion for the reconstruction of Nkalagu-Nsukka federal road.

The Minister made the disclosure during a press conference in Enugu, on Saturday, after inspection of works in some of the ongoing projects being done by the Federal government in the south east region.

The F117 Nkalagu-Obollo Afor-Nsukka federal road is in a deplorable state, with reports of accidents and fatalities due to its poor condition. The road has been abandoned for over 40 years, forcing commuters to take alternative routes. 

The road is a key link connecting Enugu and Ebonyi States, with funding allocated and contracts awarded over the years by the Federal Government. The road has seen neglect for decades, with earlier rehabilitation in the 1980s. Funds have been allocated in various budgets since 2009 up till 2024, with contracts awarded to contractors, yet the road has remained impassable.

The road provides access to the defunct Nigerian Cement Company (Nigercem) in Nkalagu and supports economic activities in Enugu and Ebonyi States. It also connects to the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and serves as a major artery to northern Nigeria. 

N123m was allocated to the Construction of the road in the 2024 Federal budget with nothing to show for it. In 2009, the then Senate Committee Chairman on Works, Senator Julius Ucha from Ebonyi state disclosed that N1 billion was provided for the road then estimated to gulp N6.5 billion.

But asked about the situation with the road in the press conference in Enugu, the Minister for Works, Umahi said, "I'm not looking for roads to do, I'm looking for how to complete the ones I'm doing. When I finish the one I'm doing, then you can ask the question."

Speaking about other roads, Umahi said that the Federal Government will deploy solar lights and CCTV cameras to monitor its projects across the country.

Some of the projects he inspected include Enugu-Port Harcourt highway, Enugu-Onitsha road, Eke-Obinagu flyover in Enugu, second Niger bridge and Asaba-Onitsha highway, Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Highway, bridges and two flyovers.

Umahi noted that the project inspection became necessary to achieve quality work as stipulated by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

“Let me say that our commitment in deploying solar light and CCTV to monitor the bridges and the surroundings are not limited to bridges. This is what we are going to have in all our federal highways,” he said.

The minister said the 61 kilometres of the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway, which was the first section, had been fully completed.

“This is very vital. The first section from Enugu to Lokpanta is 61 kilometres. I can attest that 61 kilometres of this road from Enugu has been fully completed.

“Another three kilometres of Port Harcourt road has been fully completed. We have directed that no laid asphalt should be removed from our road again.

“We have different treatment to different roads, but don’t remove asphalt from our road. This is what we directed,” the Minister added.