Umahi rallies South-East for Tinubu, cites mega road projects

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has urged people of the South-East to adopt a strategic approach and support President Bola Tinubu, pointing to ongoing federal road projects in the region as clear evidence of commitment to its development.

Addressing newsmen during the inspection of ongoing work on federal roads in Enugu State, the minister said his tour across the six geopolitical zones was aimed at identifying projects ready for commissioning before May 29, stressing that some key projects would require the President’s presence.

“Well, I’m going round the six geopolitical zones assessing what is possible to be commissioned before May 29 by Mr President. There are some mega projects that, if the President is not available before then, we will need to adjust, because those are projects he must personally commission,” he said.

Making a direct appeal to the region, Umahi urged residents not to be swayed by divisive narratives but to support the current administration for sustained gains.

“And so the people of the South-East ought to be very grateful to Mr President, because we have never had it like this. I was governor for eight years and I cannot remember this level of federal road intervention in my state. Our people know this very well.

“We should be very careful. There are people who pretend they are helping us, but they are actually inciting us against the government and the nation. We must be wise enough to know when people are pretending and when they are genuinely interested in our progress.”

He added that while agitation for political inclusion is understandable, the region must act with foresight.

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“It’s not as if agitation is wrong, but let us allow this man who has started correcting the wrongs done to the South-East in the past to continue. Let us give him the next four years, and then we will be fully integrated,” Umahi stated.

Highlighting ongoing projects, the minister described the Enugu–Onitsha road as one of the most critical routes in the region, noting that years of neglect had made it dangerous for commuters.

“This road, Enugu–Onitsha, is one of the most important routes for the people of the South-East. When we came on board, people were talking about this road every day. There were tanker accidents, loss of lives and serious challenges. But my joy is that all that is becoming a thing of the past because the President has taken decisive action.”

Umahi explained that the project spans 214 kilometres and that a significant portion is being reconstructed using concrete to ensure durability.

“I have no confidence in asphalt. About 50 per cent of this road will be done on concrete so that even if asphalt fails, a substantial part of the road will remain intact,” he said.

Reinforcing his position, the minister emphasised that the infrastructure push is part of a nationwide effort.

“There is no discrimination. The same quality you see in Lagos-Calabar is what we are bringing here. This is a national infrastructure revolution.”

He assured that the projects would significantly improve mobility and economic activities, insisting that continued support for the administration would consolidate the gains already being recorded in the South-East.