In a bid to ease transportation and boost economic activity in Nigeria’s southeast, President Bola Tinubu is “working very, very hard” to ensure the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway is completed by December, according to Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.
Speaking with journalists during an inspection visit to the Aba section of the expressway on Sunday, Umahi revealed significant strides in the project. “I can say both jobs—for Aba to Port Harcourt—about 60 per cent of the job has been done, but for Aba to Umuahia section, we’ve done over 85 per cent,” he said.
He commended Arab Contractors for the quality of their work, describing them as “one of our best.”
Umahi stated that President Tinubu has made it a priority to complete critical national roads, especially those that were in poor condition when he assumed office. “The public should know that the President is working very, very hard to complete this road,” he reiterated.
The minister added that the Federal Ministry of Works had instructed contractors to maintain the already completed Aba-Umuahia stretch, while also mandating the Federal Controller of Works in Abia to inspect all active federal projects weekly. This, he said, is essential for early identification of issues and ensuring the roads remain durable.
“You should be able to visit all the projects in Abia once a week, so that if there are impending dangers, you let us know,” Umahi told the Controller.
Highlighting the administration’s shift toward more resilient road infrastructure, Umahi disclosed that the federal government is now building roads with concrete pavements—designed to last between 50 to 100 years. “So that anyone the president has fixed will stay there for the next 50 to 100 years,” he explained.
Rainfall, often blamed for delays, was dismissed by Umahi as a valid excuse. He emphasized that experienced contractors can work efficiently during the rainy season using a technique called “tankering,” which involves drainage management and moisture control. “This is engineering, not a colour matter,” he added, indicating that poor workmanship will not be tolerated.
In one instance, the minister said he ordered expatriates off a site due to subpar work. “If the project is not doing well, we have the responsibility to take action.”
Looking ahead, Umahi said that completed roads may be tolled to ensure ongoing maintenance via public-private partnerships. “New concrete roads will require almost 0.001 per cent maintenance for the next 50 years,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Arab Contractors’ Project Manager, Sherif Fadel, admitted that the persistent rains and funding hiccups had slowed progress, though recent payments had improved their pace.
Residents of Aba have expressed cautious optimism. Chukwuebuka Nwankwo applauded the federal government and contractors for the quality seen so far but urged faster completion. Another resident, Oluchi Ukachi, said the finished expressway would ease travel burdens and fuel economic growth.
With the December deadline approaching, all eyes remain on the Tinubu administration to deliver a long-awaited piece of infrastructure crucial to Nigeria’s southeastern corridor.
