By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, has directed contractors handling the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway to ensure that no building is demolished or touched along the project alignment until the Federal Government completes a review and, where necessary, realigns the route.
Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of Phase Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway at Ado in Benue State, where he also reviewed progress on the project and directed contractors to accelerate construction activities.
The minister said in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, on Saturday that Section Two of the project covers 173 kilometres and is valued at ₦683 billion, while Section One is valued at ₦454 billion.
According to him, the contractor handling Section Two has opened the first element of the initial eight-kilometre stretch, while efforts are ongoing to resolve the engineering challenge around the Ado Bridge.
“I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,” Umahi said, directing the contractor to open another section from the Ado River while the engineering team works on the best solution for crossing the bridge.
He also directed that at least three sections of the first element of Section Two should be opened simultaneously to accelerate construction, adding that he would personally engage the project manager on site to agree on the technical and practical steps required.
Umahi commended the contractor for the progress recorded since his previous inspection.
“From the last time we were here until now, he has done very well, and I’m very proud of what he’s doing,” he said.
On buildings located within the current alignment, the minister ordered the contractor to avoid them pending a possible adjustment to the route.
“My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,” he said.
He further directed that sharp curves along the highway should be strengthened regardless of what was contained in the original design, stressing that experienced professionals must be deployed on major infrastructure projects because engineering realities on the ground could require adjustments.
Umahi explained that the project was being executed under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Plus Finance arrangement, under which variations are not provided for, making careful management of quantities and resources necessary to avoid additional costs to the Federal Government.
The minister also highlighted additional works under Section One, including the dualisation of the road at Onueke, which he said was outside the initial scope, as well as the dualisation at Chainage 0 around Ndibe Beach.
Speaking on the broader infrastructure programme of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Umahi dismissed claims that he had concentrated Federal Government projects in the Southeast.
“I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so they darken counsel without knowledge,” he said.
The minister stressed that the infrastructure programme was part of the Federal Government's national development agenda and not his personal initiative.
“I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?” he asked.
According to Umahi, the Southeast is receiving infrastructure attention as part of the national distribution of projects, adding that the region may not be first, second or third in infrastructure development under the Tinubu administration, but “definitely they will not be the last.”
‘There Is No Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi’
Umahi also dismissed speculation about a political “rainbow coalition” in Ebonyi State involving him and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
“If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship,” he said.
The minister reiterated his criticism of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi, recalling that he left the party after what he described as its failure to adequately recognise and serve the interests of the Southeast.
“We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,” Umahi said.
He, however, said political opponents were free to campaign in the state provided they did so peacefully.
“Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that,” he said.
Umahi also argued that Nigerians should assess the Tinubu administration through infrastructure projects already being executed rather than campaign promises.
“We tell our story. It’s not a question of saying, ‘I will do this, I’ll do this.’ What about the one that the person is doing? Let us compare the past with the present,” he said.
He cited the Ebonyi State ring road as an example, recalling that while serving as governor, the state borrowed $150 million to construct 199 kilometres of the road.
The minister also responded to arguments concerning savings, saying, “You can’t save food where the people are hungry,” while making the case that infrastructure investment creates assets capable of supporting economic activity and improving connectivity.
Umahi disclosed that four legacy infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration were being financed through a combination of Federal Government funding and foreign financing, with 30 percent funded in naira by the Federal Government and 70 percent through foreign financing.
He rejected suggestions that the administration had abandoned existing roads in favour of new projects, explaining that several of the legacy projects involved expansion and reconstruction of existing road corridors.
“I’m very proud of what the President is doing,” he said. “I’m very proud that we continue to educate our people to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Southeast and all over the country, so that he can anchor most of these projects he has started.”
Responding to questions about his criticism of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Umahi said his concerns were based on policy, political messaging and what he described as the use of ethnic and tribal sentiments in political discourse.
The minister recalled his working relationship with Obi when both served as governors and said they attended meetings of the Southeast Governors’ Forum, when Obi was chairman.
Umahi argued that political promises should be assessed against previous records and measurable achievements rather than campaign declarations alone.
“If the past outing you cannot have something to verify, then you cannot be assured of the promises of the second time,” he said.
On the 2027 presidential election, Umahi said his support for President Tinubu was based on his belief in the President’s vision and reforms.
“What gave rise is because I believe in President Bola Tinubu. I believe that he’s the one called of God. I believe in his vision. I believe in his reforms. I believe he’s the best person that I have worked with and for, and I’m very proud of working for him and working with him,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of continuity in major infrastructure projects, arguing that changes in administration could affect projects requiring several years to complete.
“If, God forbid, another person says he’s President, all these projects will be stalled. And I don’t think Ebonyi wants their projects to be stalled,” Umahi said.
The minister also addressed questions concerning his son, who was nominated by Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru as Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area.
Umahi clarified that the nomination was made by the governor and not by him. He said he had instructed his son to uphold transparency, honesty and prudent management of public funds.
According to the minister, his son had promised not to collect salary or allowances and had been advised to ensure equitable development across all 11 council wards rather than favouring his home community.
“I’ve advised him, don’t do anything for the people of Uburu because you are from Uburu. It has to be equitably distributed among the eleven council wards in Ohaozara Local Government,” Umahi said.
He added that the governor’s decision to nominate his son was personally significant to him because, in his view, it demonstrated the governor’s appreciation of their relationship and the contributions of the past administration.
On the political situation in Ebonyi, Umahi said anyone seeking to campaign in the state was free to do so but warned against attempts to foment crisis.
“Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State,” he said.