South-East governors and political leaders are expected to converge on Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Monday for a major rally to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this at the weekend during a media tour of federal infrastructure projects in Ebonyi State, saying the rally would serve as a demonstration of the region’s appreciation for the President’s infrastructure investments and inclusive governance.
According to Umahi, Governor Francis Nwifuru will lead the people of Ebonyi State at the event, which is expected to attract political leaders and stakeholders from across the South-East.
He urged residents to ignore opposition criticisms and instead focus on what he described as the administration’s achievements in infrastructure development.
The minister also revealed that several road projects in the South-East, originally conceived during the colonial era but abandoned for decades, are now being actualised under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He cited the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue Trans-Saharan Superhighway as one of the flagship projects being revived by the administration.
“It is a colonial-era dream long forgotten, but President Tinubu has revived it, and construction is now underway. We must thank him immensely,” Umahi said.
The minister disclosed that Section One of the project, initially designed as 118 kilometres, had been extended to 123.6 kilometres with a contract value of N45 billion, while dualisation works were ongoing.
He added that Section Two, stretching from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa State, had been awarded at a cost of N668 billion.
Umahi said the project had attained about 28 per cent completion in some sections despite the rainy season, attributing the progress to the adoption of concrete pavement technology.
According to him, the highway will boost regional trade by facilitating the movement of agricultural produce from Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi states while strengthening connectivity with neighbouring Cameroon.
“The Trans-Sahara Superhighway is not just a road; it is an investment corridor that will catalyse trade in agricultural produce like cassava, yams, cashews and palm oil from Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi, while also connecting Nigeria to Cameroon,” he said.
The minister maintained that the South-East was benefiting from greater inclusion in federal infrastructure development.
“All our forefathers sought—inclusiveness—we have it now,” he added.
Meanwhile, Governor Nwifuru declared that Ebonyi remains the safest state in Nigeria, claiming there had been no reported kidnapping cases since he assumed office.
Speaking while receiving the media delegation in Abakaliki, the governor commended Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructure development in the South-East and for supporting development initiatives in Ebonyi State.
He highlighted ongoing projects across the state, including rural roads, primary healthcare centres and water schemes.
“We have kept contractors busy in the state with projects spread across every local government area, from rural roads to primary health centres and water schemes,” Nwifuru said.
The media tour was organised by the Hope Uzodimma-led Renewed Hope Ambassadors in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.
The South-East tour follows an earlier engagement in the North-West and is jointly led by presidential media aides Bayo Onanuga and Sunday Dare.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
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