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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Sam Onuigbo, has called on the people of entire South East Zone to fully support the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu, for them to enjoy economic development.
Onuigbo, who represents the South East in the Governing Board of North East Development Commission (NEDC), observed that President Tinubu’s special intervention rekindles hope for speedy completion of the construction of Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway.
In a statement yesterday, he urged community leaders and residents along the project corridor to sustain their cooperation and support for the contractors to ensure timely and seamless execution of the important project.
He noted that the President’s directive for the handover of the remaining 25 kilometres out of the 49.5 kilometres road to the Abia State governor is not only a show of wisdom and kindness, but also a confirmation that the President Tinubu-led APC administration has the interest of the South East at heart.
Onuigbo said he was pleased that the individual and collective aspiration of the people of his federal constituency received the presidential attention, stressing that the road, which traverses Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Port Harcourt and even Cameroun holds much socio-economic benefits to the people.
Recall that following the intervention of President Tinubu and progress report from the Minister of Works, David Umahi, the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot-Ekpene trunk A road, has been handed over to the Abia State Government for completion.
Tracing the journey to the synergy between the Federal and Abia State Governments, Onuigbo stated: “This journey to the commencement of rehabilitation work dates back to the motion I personally moved on the floor of the House of Representatives on 26th May 2016 about the failed sections of the road, especially between Ndoro and Okweukwu Communities in Oboro Clan in Ikwuano Local Government Area.
“That was followed up with my first visit to the then Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola on the 14th of June, 2016.
“I recall with great sense of responsibility and nostalgic feelings the efforts made some years back to ensure the realization of this strategic road, which connects the West, the North and the East to the South-South states of Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, and even the neigbhouring Cameroun.”
Onuigbo, who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South federal constituency in the 8th and 9th National Assembly, noted that previous efforts by the Federal Government resulted in the reconstruction of over 24.5 kilometres of the road, spanning the FMC – ORPET, Streams of Joy – Ahieke, Government College/ Mandy Filling Station to ABSU Campus/National Root Crops Research Institute.
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He added that while major drainage work at the Research Institute has been completed, the Federal Government rounded off construction from Amawom – Isiala Oboro in Abia State, and Ikot Ekpene – Obot Akara in Akwa-Ibom State near the Army base at Ariam, Ikwuano Local Government Area, as well as, the reclaiming of a large gully erosion at Kilometre 10, Amawom community in Oboro clan.
He recounted the various interventions he made to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the deplorable state of the road, stressing, “my SOS visit to the then Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola elicited instant reply from the then Minister through a letter referenced: DDHMS/CR/62/NPSS/IT/164 dated June 15, 2016.”
“One of the resolutions from the meeting,” he stated further, “was the directive to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to carry out palliative works on that road, particularly, the Ndoro – Okweukwu axis, and a commitment to award the road in 2017.”
The former lawmaker stated: “Again, following another letter to the Minister and other pressures and lobbying in my efforts towards the inclusion of the road project in the Appropriation Act, the Federal Government awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the road to Hartland Nigeria Limited and Rayccon & Company Nigeria Limited in 2019.
“Having observed the funding difficulties caused by recession and the impact of Covid-19, I wrote a letter dated September 27, 2021, to the Honourable Minister on the need to transfer the funding of the reconstruction work to special intervention agencies like the SUKUK Bond or the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme.
“To the glory of God, these efforts bore fruits as the Federal Government via an Executive Order, approved the transfer of the sponsorship of the project to the NNPCL.”
He recalled that in appreciation, Abia stakeholders met on February 24, 2025 and expressed their gratitude to President Tinubu, remarking that the narrative was necessary to show how elated he was to learn of the new resolution by Mr. President to guarantee the early completion of the ongoing reconstruction work.
Onuigbo disclosed that the latest development on the road aligns with President Tinubu’s declaration in his inaugural speech, where he assured to “continue the efforts of the Buhari administration on infrastructure; progress toward national network of roads, rail and ports shall get priority attention.”
“As a stakeholder, it is on the basis of this that I wish to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his kind gesture in approving the handover of the project to the Abia State Government for completion.
“This act reaffirms his commitment to fairness, inclusion, and partnership across the South-East. Let us at this juncture also appreciate the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti for seeing the need to cooperate with the Federal Government to deliver on this strategic road project.
“My appreciation also goes to His Excellency, Senator, Engr. David Umahi, Honourable Minister of Works, for his continuous supervision and technical guidance in ensuring steady progress,” he declared.
