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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Minister of Works David Umahi has urged Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Cross River communities and other parts of the country to acknowledge and appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for executing massive infrastructure in the communities.
Umahi said the President is a miracle to the communities because without Tinubu’s intervention, many of the communities would not have been able to move their agricultural produce, vehicles and machinery within their localities.
He stated this on Saturday evening while inspecting the ongoing construction of the Federal Government Trans-Saharan Highway, which cuts across Ebonyi, Benue, Cross River, Enugu, Kogi and other states of the federation.
Umahi opined that Tinubu was concerned about the welfare of the masses, which he said was why he directed him to do everything possible, in collaboration with the relevant state governments, to address problems affecting the people through the provision of massive infrastructure.
He commended the President for providing mobilisation for the project in spite of the financial challenges the country was passing through and the quantum of projects currently ongoing across the nation.
He assured that all the projects being executed by the Federal Government would be completed by the end of 2031, saying that if previous Presidents did what Tinubu is doing in infrastructure, Nigeria wouldn’t have been in the kind of situation it is today.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken the bull by the horns and intervened in many of issues. We cannot have all the money to do all the projects at once, so we will continue to do the much we can based on our available resources.
“By the end of 2031, which will be the end of President Bola Tinubu’s second tenure if he is re-elected, these projects and roads would have been fully completed. I commend the President very highly.
“If previous presidents had intervened in this manner, perhaps we would not be in the kind of situation we are facing today. We have been to Ibadan, Ijebu Ode, the Coastal Highway and other locations to intervene in road projects and bypasses.
“The President is concerned about the welfare of the people. That is why he directed us to do everything possible, in collaboration with the relevant state governments, to address problems affecting the people.
“I want to thank the President very highly, especially in spite of the financial challenges and the quantum of projects in our hands. He has approved and provided mobilisation for this project.
“When people say, “You are constructing roads,” they should come and see these communities in Benue. Some of these communities have no federal roads leading to them.
“I think the President is a miracle to these communities because without this intervention, many of them would not have been able to move their agricultural produce, vehicles and machinery.
“I want the public to appreciate what the President is doing. I appeal to the communities in Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River and other parts of the country to acknowledge and appreciate the Federal Government’s intervention”, he said.
Umahi, a former Governor of Ebonyi State, urged the people of the country to re-elect Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking during the inspection, the traditional ruler of Ndiagu Ishieke Autonomous Community in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, HRH Idenyi Agbo, commended the Federal Government for the project, describing it as a demonstration of responsive governance and a major intervention capable of transforming the economic fortunes of communities along the corridor.
Agbo eulogised Umahi for applying his engineering expertise, administrative experience and sensitivity to the cultural heritage of host communities in the execution of the project.
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He said the minister’s decision to ensure that his palace was not demolished in the course of the road construction demonstrated wisdom, maturity and respect for the traditional institution.
According to the monarch, Umahi’s approach had shown that critical infrastructure could be delivered without unnecessarily undermining the historical and cultural assets of host communities.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Umahi for the road intervention, assuring the Federal Government of the community’s cooperation and support for the successful completion of the project.
He consequently declared the community’s support for the re-election of President Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
“There is no other person we would rather support at this moment than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia and the APC candidates because we have seen the impact of their administration in our communities,” the monarch said.
He, however, urged residents and youths to protect the road infrastructure and cooperate with contractors, engineers and government officials to ensure that the project was delivered within schedule and according to specifications.
The Project Manager of Section Two of the Trans-Sahara Highway, Rabih Munayer, said the contractor was implementing directives issued by the Minister of Works to minimise property damage and avoid unnecessary demolition along the road alignment.
Munayer said Section Two covered approximately 173.4 kilometres, subject to adjustments arising from the ongoing design review.
“This is Section Two of this major superhighway,” he said, explaining that the section traverses parts of Benue, Enugu and Kogi states before terminating at the Benue River and Nasarawa boundary.
He said the contractor would deploy additional pipes and temporary measures, particularly during the rainy season, to maintain trafficability and facilitate construction activities without unnecessarily disrupting communities.
According to him, the measures would enable construction equipment to move through the corridor while reducing the need to demolish structures and cause avoidable damage to property.
Also speaking, the consultant and designer for Section Two, Engineer Akelakpa Edra, said the project design was being reviewed to incorporate the minister’s directives, including the replacement of some culverts with bridges and adjustments to the alignment where necessary to avoid properties.
Edra said the revised design would take into account all the instructions issued by the minister in order to minimise the impact of the project on communities along the corridor.
A stakeholder from Odoke Ishieke in the community, Chief Patrick Agbo, described the road project as a major Federal Government intervention with the potential to stimulate economic activities, improve connectivity and open up the area to greater commercial opportunities.
He urged Umahi to convey the community’s appreciation to President Tinubu and all relevant authorities responsible for the project.
He said improved road connectivity would facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, people and goods while creating new opportunities for commerce and other socio-economic activities.
The community stakeholder also declared his support for APC candidates, stressing that the people would continue to identify with administrations whose policies and projects had tangible impacts on their lives.
He assured the Federal Government, contractors and workers of the community’s cooperation and support for the security of the project, while calling on residents and youths to protect construction personnel and equipment deployed to the area.
