Umahi: Tinubu’s Transformative Projects Have Silenced Critics in South-East

 Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, on Friday declared that the transformative infrastructure projects being executed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu across the South-East had effectively silenced critics of the Federal Government, insisting that the President’s performance in the region speaks louder than political rhetoric.

Umahi stated this while inspecting ongoing federal road projects in Ebonyi State, where he highlighted what he described as unprecedented investments in road infrastructure by the Tinubu administration. He urged the people of the South-East to support the President’s re-election in 2027 to ensure the completion of the projects.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting of June 29, 2026, approved federal road projects worth over N248 billion for Ebonyi State, describing the approvals as another demonstration of President Tinubu’s commitment to the development of the South-East.

According to him, the approved projects include the 18-kilometre concrete dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Road from EBSU Gate through Spera-In-Deo to Margaret Umahi International Market at a cost of about N84 billion, the 21-kilometre dualisation from Onueke towards Ezza South and Ezza North valued at about N118 billion, as well as N46 billion for retaining walls, drainage and shoulder works along the Okposi-Amasiri Road.

He disclosed that work on the newly approved projects would commence before the middle of August.

“We are standing on projects that speak for themselves. These approvals are a big plus for Ebonyi State, the South-East and indeed every user of these roads. The President is talking less but doing so much for our people,” Umahi said.

The minister also commended contractors handling major federal road projects in the state, particularly those executing the Onueke Flyover and the Legacy Road Project, for maintaining steady progress despite delays in government payments.

According to him, more than 60 per cent of the Onueke Flyover has already been completed because the contractors have confidence in the Tinubu administration.

“They have not even been fully paid, yet they have continued to work because they believe in President Tinubu’s administration. I want to assure them that they will be paid,” he said.

Umahi further disclosed that the 125-kilometre Legacy Road Project stretching from Ndibe Beach through Ebonyi to the Benue boundary was progressing steadily, adding that the Federal Government had also approved an additional two-kilometre dualisation to ease traffic congestion.

He revealed that another federal highway contract had been awarded from the Benue-Ebonyi boundary through Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa, noting that the road would strengthen economic and social links between the South-East and the North-Central.

The minister maintained that no previous administration had invested in road infrastructure across the South-East as extensively as the Tinubu administration.

“This President has done what no other President has done for the South-East in terms of road infrastructure. The quality of the projects, the fairness in their distribution and the level of commitment are unprecedented,” he said.

He added that the numerous ongoing federal road projects across the five South-East states had significantly addressed concerns over marginalisation.

“There is no part of the South-East today where federal road projects are not ongoing. From Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Aba-Port Harcourt, Owerri-Onitsha, Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja, the Legacy Project, Ndibe Beach Bridge, Oferekpe Bridge and several flyovers, the evidence is there for everyone to see,” Umahi stated.

Speaking on the 2027 presidential election, the minister appealed to the people of the region to support President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying continuity would guarantee the completion of ongoing strategic infrastructure projects.

“2027 belongs to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We want these projects completed because they are critical to the development and integration of our region,” he said.

Responding to recent comments by the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Umahi dismissed claims that the Federal Government was targeting the former Anambra State governor.

“Nobody is after Peter Obi. We want him on the ballot because the people will decide. The South-East will massively vote for President Tinubu because they can already see the dividends of his administration,” he said.

The minister added that he would continue to defend the administration whenever it came under criticism.

“If he attacks Tinubu, I will respond because I am on the ballot for the South-East to ensure these projects are completed. We are looking for leadership with proven capacity and visible achievements, not empty promises,” Umahi added.

He described allegations of a conspiracy against Obi ahead of the 2027 election as “AI politics” and “cheap sentiments,” insisting that the administration’s record of infrastructure delivery remained the strongest response to opposition criticism.

Umahi also disclosed that the Federal Government was strengthening security on major highways through the deployment of surveillance cameras, observation centres and enhanced highway patrols to improve safety, curb criminal activities and facilitate economic growth across the country’s road network.