Tinubu Earmarks Over ₦1.3 Trillion for South-East Road and Bridge Upgrades

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved and committed over ₦1.3 trillion for road and bridge infrastructure development across the South-Eastern part of Nigeria.

David Umahi , the minister for works , stated that the investment falls under the Federal Government’s renewed effort to overhaul major roads in the region as part of its broader national infrastructure strategy. He pointed to what he described as the “Third Legacy Project,” which includes the Trans-Saharan route traversing Ebonyi, Benue, Cross River, Kogi, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory. In this corridor, a 123.64-kilometre stretch from Ebonyi State to the Benue border has already been awarded at a cost of ₦445.8 billion, with ₦108 billion released so far to the contractors.

The minister also addressed the allegations that the South-East was being marginalised in terms of federal infrastructure projects. He noted that such claims were unfounded and politically motivated.

According to Umahi, the Second Niger Bridge access roads in both Delta and Anambra States have been awarded at ₦146 billion and ₦176 billion, respectively. He further clarified that the Enugu–Onitsha dual carriageway, spanning 208 kilometres, is currently being executed under the MTN tax credit scheme at a value of ₦202 billion. Additional work on the same road is also underway by CBC Nigeria Limited under a separate ₦150 billion contract, with ₦45 billion disbursed as of last week.

Umahi expressed deep concern over what he described as deliberate attempts to mislead the public by taking portions of his presentation at the Federal Executive Council out of context. He reiterated that the Tinubu administration is fully committed to balanced development and has demonstrated this through massive funding and prompt release of funds for projects in the South-East.

Calling for unity and cooperation from residents of the region, he urged citizens to open their eyes to the developmental efforts already underway. He further emphasized that the Federal Government remains focused on delivering high-impact infrastructure that will boost economic growth and connectivity in all regions, including the South-East.