The Federal Government, yesterday, reopened the initial 15 kilometres completed sections of the Enugu–Onitsha highway, describing the project as a major milestone in infrastructure development across the zone.
 
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, who performed the ceremony, also lauded President Bola Tinubu’s impact on the infrastructural upliftment of the South-East region, urging the people to continue supporting him.
 
Umahi recalled that prior to the current administration, the critical highway, considered one of the busiest routes in the South-East, had deteriorated significantly, with travel time stretching beyond seven hours, noting that the project, originally awarded in 2023, suffered prolonged delays with little progress.
 
He said the Federal Government intervened to accelerate the construction and restructuring of the contract, introducing reinforced concrete pavement on key sections to ensure durability.
 
He explained that while part of the project remained with its original contractor, a 72-kilometre stretch was now being rebuilt using high-quality concrete technology designed to last 50 to 100 years with minimal maintenance.
 
Umahi disclosed that the total cost of reconstructing the road stands at over N350 billion, combining both the existing contract and the newly reviewed sections.
 
He added that the first 15 kilometres of the concrete pavement have been opened to ease traffic ahead of the Easter season. He emphasised that additional sections, spanning 18 kilometres and 39 kilometres, are at various stages of completion, with directives issued to ensure uniform construction standards across the route.
 
The minister lauded Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure in the region, noting that multiple road projects are currently underway.  He listed the roads as major corridors linking Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha, as well as the Second Niger Bridge access roads, among others.
 
Umahi added that federal investments, such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and other “legacy projects,” would improve connectivity between the South-East and other parts of the country.
 
The works minister also pointed to ongoing reconstruction of additional roads under various funding arrangements, including tax credit schemes and direct federal funding, noting that many of the projects are nearing completion.
 
While acknowledging public concerns about other unfinished road sections, Umahi insisted that work is ongoing and urged Nigerians to verify progress on-site rather than relying on outdated reports.