The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has defended the Federal Government’s handling of road projects affected by existing concession agreements, insisting that he has done what is expected of him as Minister of Works.

Umahi spoke on Saturday during an inspection of the Federal Government’s Trans-Sahara Highway project at Ndiagu Ishieke, on the Benue-Ebonyi border, where he assured residents and other stakeholders of the government’s commitment to delivering the strategic road while minimising its impact on host communities.

He said the administration had remained mindful of contractual and legal obligations while responding to the needs of road users and communities affected by major infrastructure projects.

The minister urged members of the public and media practitioners to conduct proper investigations before commenting on complex engineering, contractual or legal issues surrounding major infrastructure projects.

Umahi explained that the Federal Government had, where necessary, intervened in areas outside the original scope of some contracts, particularly where such interventions were required to protect citizens’ welfare and improve connectivity.

He appealed to residents to cooperate with officials conducting enumeration and compensation exercises, assuring affected property owners that the government would fulfil its compensation obligations where applicable.

The minister also directed contractors handling the Trans-Sahara Highway project to minimise the demolition of houses and other properties along the road alignment.

He commended the people of Benue and other host states for their support and urged communities to continue providing a peaceful and secure environment for contractors and workers.

According to Umahi, the successful completion of the Trans-Sahara Highway would provide a strategic transportation corridor while unlocking the agricultural potential of the region, stimulating commerce, strengthening inter-state connectivity and improving security.

He explained that Section One of the project covered approximately 123 kilometres from the Ebonyi axis to the Ebonyi-Benue boundary, while Section Two stretched about 173.4 kilometres through parts of Benue, Enugu and Kogi states to the Benue River and Nasarawa boundary.

The two sections, he said, would cover approximately 300 kilometres and, at a design speed of 100 kilometres per hour, substantially reduce travel time and enhance connectivity across the affected regions.

Umahi said the project would have significant economic implications for the South-East, North-Central and South-South regions, particularly by strengthening agricultural supply chains, facilitating trade and expanding commercial activities.

He added that improved road infrastructure along the corridor would contribute to security by enhancing the movement of security personnel and connecting previously isolated communities.

The minister disclosed that Section One, currently designed as a single carriageway, would subsequently have a second carriageway designed to integrate with other legacy infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration.

He also disclosed that an approximately 8.9-kilometre bypass around Afikpo and onward to the Timbershed area would be dualised as part of the broader intervention.

Expressing satisfaction with the commitment of the contractor handling Section Two, Umahi said the Federal Government remained committed to completing the project despite financial constraints arising from the volume of road infrastructure projects being executed across the country.

He said the administration was prioritising projects in line with available resources, assuring that the Trans-Sahara Highway would be completed before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s second term.

Speaking during the inspection, the traditional ruler of Ndiagu Ishieke Autonomous Community in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, HRH Eze Idenyi Agbo, commended the Federal Government for the ongoing construction.

Eze Agbo described the project as a demonstration of responsive governance and a major intervention capable of transforming the economic fortunes of communities along the corridor.

He particularly praised Umahi for applying his engineering expertise, administrative experience and sensitivity to the cultural heritage of host communities in executing the project.

The monarch said the minister’s decision to ensure that his palace was not demolished during the road construction demonstrated wisdom, maturity and respect for the traditional institution.
According to him, Umahi’s approach showed that critical infrastructure could be delivered without unnecessarily undermining the historical and cultural assets of host communities.

Eze Agbo expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Umahi for the road intervention, assuring the Federal Government of the community’s cooperation and support for the successful completion of the project.

He also declared the community’s support for the re-election of President Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

“There is no other person we would rather support at this moment than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia and the APC candidates because we have seen the impact of their administration in our communities,” the monarch said.

He, however, urged residents and youths to protect the road infrastructure and cooperate with contractors, engineers and government officials to ensure that the project was delivered on schedule and according to specifications.

The Project Manager of Section Two, Rabih Munayer, said the contractor was implementing directives issued by Umahi to minimise property damage and avoid unnecessary demolition along the road alignment.

Munayer said Section Two covered approximately 173.4 kilometres, subject to adjustments arising from the ongoing design review.

“This is Section Two of this major superhighway,” he said, explaining that the section traverses parts of Benue, Enugu and Kogi states before terminating at the Benue River and Nasarawa boundary.

Also speaking, the consultant and designer for Section Two, Engineer Akelakpa Edra, said the project design was being reviewed to incorporate the minister’s directives, including replacing some culverts with bridges and adjusting the alignment where necessary to avoid properties.

Edra said the revised design would take into account the minister’s instructions to minimise the impact of the project on communities along the corridor.