FG opens section of Enugu-Onitsha expressway, assures completion by 2026

…Umahi says the concrete road will last 100 years

David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has opened the first completed 15-kilometre section of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, describing the project as a major milestone in infrastructure development across Nigeria’s South-East Region.

Speaking during the event, on Thursday, Umahi recalled that prior to the current Federal Government, the highway considered one of the busiest routes in the South-East had deteriorated significantly with travel time stretching beyond seven hours due to poor road conditions. He noted that the project, originally awarded years before 2023, had suffered prolonged delays with little progress.

According to the minister, the APC-led Federal Government intervened to accelerate construction, restructured the contract and introduced reinforced concrete pavement on key sections to ensure durability. He explained that while part of the project remains under its original contractor, a 72-kilometre stretch is now being rebuilt using high-quality concrete technology designed to last between 50 and 100 years with minimal maintenance.

Umahi disclosed that the total cost of reconstructing the road now stands at over ₦350 billion, combining both the existing contract and the newly reviewed sections. He added that the first 15 kilometres of the concrete pavement is nearly completed and had been opened to ease traffic ahead of the Easter season.

He emphasised that additional sections, spanning 18 kilometres and 39 kilometres respectively are at various stages of completion, with directives issued to ensure uniformed construction standards across the routes.

The minister thanked President Bola Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure in the South-East, stating that multiple road projects across the Region are currently ongoing. These include major corridors linking Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha, as well as the Second Niger Bridge access roads and other federal highways.

He further highlighted broader federal investments, such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and other “legacy projects,” which he said, would improve connectivity between the South-East and other parts of the Country.

Umahi also pointed to ongoing reconstruction of additional roads under various funding arrangements, including tax credit schemes and direct federal funding, noting that many of these projects are nearing completion.

While acknowledging public concerns about other unfinished road sections, the minister insisted that work is ongoing and urged Nigerians to verify progress on-site rather than relying on outdated reports.

Beyond infrastructure, Umahi called on leaders in the South-East to support the current Administration, arguing that the Region is witnessing increased federal attention and inclusion in national development efforts.

He assured that the Enugu-Onitsha road project would be fully completed by 2026, describing it as a transformative development that would significantly reduce travel time, improve safety, and boost economic activities across the region.