Umahi Says Tinubu-Era Federal Roads Are Being Built To Last 100 Years

Minister of Works David Umahi said on Saturday in Awka that federal roads built and rebuilt under President Bola Tinubu’s administration are being designed to last for 100 years.

Umahi spoke after inspecting the 107-kilometre dual-carriageway project at the Amasea axis of the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha highway in Anambra State. He said the Federal Government’s plan is to shift federal roads to concrete sections in order to improve durability and reduce repeated failure on major corridors.

The minister linked the renewed pace of work on the highway to what he described as Tinubu’s decision to address long-standing infrastructure gaps in the South-East. He described the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha corridor as a road that had suffered years of neglect.

“The Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Road has been a nightmare for decades. Previous governments, up to eight of them, never worked on this road. What we are seeing today is due to the audacity, determination, and love President Tinubu has for Ndigbo.

“All the nightmares on that road will come to an end under President Tinubu. The Southeast should be grateful because what we have long expected has come to pass.

“I am assuring Nigerians that all the roads that will be constructed and reconstructed under President Tinubu’s administration will last for good 100 years,” he stated.

Umahi said the 107-kilometre job was awarded to MTN Nigeria under a tax credit arrangement valued at N202 billion. He added that work worth about N50 billion had been completed before the present administration came in, while the revised scope is now being handled with subcontractors Niger Cat and Ronalds Construction Company, also known as RCC.

“MTN, in collaboration with subcontractors Niger Cat and RCC, is presently executing the revised scope of work, which is expected to be completed and officially commissioned by the end of May, 2026.

“I am satisfied with what they have done so far. Where we have objections, we have pointed them out, and they have agreed to make corrections,” the minister stated.

He said the current phase is expected to end in May and that the outstanding portion covers about 72 kilometres across four sections. According to him, two key stretches measuring 15 kilometres and 18 kilometres are being built with reinforced concrete.

Federal Controller of Works in Anambra, Engr Augustine Emeka Opara, and his Enugu counterpart, Engr Ndem Smart, said their teams would work continuously to meet the May completion timeline. Umahi was joined on the inspection by presidential aide on South-East community engagement and MTN project manager Engr Tochukwu Onourah.