Minister of Works David Umahi has rejected allegations that the Federal Government is concentrating road infrastructure projects in the South-East, saying ongoing interventions across the country are based on approvals by President Bola Tinubu.
Umahi spoke during an inspection of the Trans-Sahara Highway project, which runs from Afikpo in Ebonyi State through Benue, Enugu and Kogi states before terminating at the Owete Bridge linking the route to the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister said federal road projects were being implemented nationwide based on developmental priorities rather than regional considerations.
“They want to gag me on social media when they say I cornered all the road projects to the South-East,” Umahi said.
“That is very wonderful. But we have publications of all ongoing projects. So, I am not acting on my own; the President is my boss. Where would he be while I supposedly corner all the projects to the South-East?”
Umahi also defended the level of infrastructure investment in the South-East, saying the region was receiving what he described as its fair share of national infrastructure development.
“Some people are simply dissatisfied that, for the first time, the people of the South-East are receiving their fair share of our national infrastructure,” he said.
“I have always maintained that in terms of infrastructure development, the South-East may not rank first, second, or third, but they will definitely not be the last.”
During the inspection, Umahi directed the contractor handling the Trans-Sahara Highway to begin simultaneous work on three designated sections to accelerate completion. He also said he would personally inspect the Ador Bridge during his next routine visit.
The minister further defended the government’s use of borrowing to finance major infrastructure projects, arguing that targeted debt can support economic development when deployed into projects capable of generating long-term returns.
Citing the 199-kilometre Ebonyi State Ring Road, which he said was financed through a $150 million facility during his tenure as governor, Umahi said borrowing could be justified when there was a clear plan for deploying the funds.
“We borrowed because we knew precisely how to deploy the funds productively,” he said.
He argued that delaying infrastructure investment could increase project costs over time, questioning the economic value of holding funds back while critical infrastructure needs remain unmet.
Umahi also outlined the Federal Government’s financing structure for its signature projects, saying the four legacy projects had each received 30 per cent direct naira funding from the government, with the remaining 70 per cent secured through foreign financing arrangements.
The minister rejected claims that the Ministry of Works was abandoning existing highways in favour of new greenfield corridors.
“When critics claim we have abandoned existing roads to construct new ones, that is completely untrue,” he said. “Our route today utilized existing roads that were strategically expanded and rehabilitated.”
Umahi called on citizens in the South-East and other parts of the country to support the administration’s economic and infrastructure programmes, pointing to foreign exchange reserves of about $55 billion as an indicator of the fiscal position supporting ongoing development projects.
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