Works minister Dave Umahi says the South-East region will produce the president of Nigeria one day, but not in 2027

The statement was made on Monday.

According to Mr Umahi, President Bola Tinubu has been fair to all regions of the country, including the South-East.

He noted that Mr Tinubu had revived 90 per cent of abandoned road projects, some dating back to 2013, and was still executing new ones without discrimination. He also said that four legacy projects were approved to cover all six geopolitical zones.

One of them, which runs from Cross River through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa to Abuja, includes a significant portion in the South-East, approximately 231.64 kilometres, and has already been awarded at a cost of N445.8 billion.

The minister further stated that the last Federal Executive Council meeting approved the review of the corridor length to 231.64km at the same contract sum.

He listed major projects ongoing in the South East, including the Second Niger Bridge Access Roads: Section 2A in Delta (N146 billion) and Section 2B in Anambra (N176 billion).

Other major ongoing projects, the minister said, included the Enugu-Onitsha Road (208km), with MTN Tax Credit funding of ₦202 billion, and CBC handling the remaining sections for ₦150 billion.

”There is also the Enugu–Port Harcourt Road in four sections: Enugu-Abakaliki, Afikpo-Abia-Imo, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, and Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene,” the statement said.

Mr Umahi urged the people of the South-East to support Mr Tinubu, noting that his administration has shown fairness and love to the region. 

He also commended the South-East governors for their support of the federal government and urged citizens to stand by them as they work towards their second term in office. Mr Umahi said one day, the South-East will produce the president of Nigeria, but not in 2027.

He reaffirmed his commitment to correcting any false claims meant to deceive the people.

(NAN)