By Chinedu Gabriel
The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has urged the people of the South-East to adopt a strategic approach by supporting President Bola Tinubu, citing ongoing federal road projects in the region as clear evidence of the administration’s commitment to its development.
Umahi made the appeal while addressing journalists during an inspection of ongoing federal road projects in Enugu State.
He explained that his ongoing tour across the six geopolitical zones is aimed at identifying projects that could be commissioned before May 29, noting that some key infrastructure 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.
The minister cautioned residents against being swayed by divisive narratives, urging them to support the current administration to sustain development 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 said.
While acknowledging that agitation for political inclusion is legitimate, Umahi stressed the need for foresight.
“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,” he added.
Highlighting specific 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,” he said.
Umahi disclosed that the 214-kilometre road is being reconstructed partly with concrete to enhance 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 explained.
He emphasised that the infrastructure drive is part of a broader national agenda.
“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 said.
Umahi expressed confidence that the projects would boost mobility and economic activities, adding that continued support for the administration would help consolidate ongoing gains in the South-East.
