…rebuts concerns over the integrity of the commissioned coastal highway segment
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reiterated his stance on the strategic importance of the South East supporting President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid, citing unprecedented infrastructure investments in the region.
According to Umahi, no previous administration has delivered as much to the South East regarding road infrastructure as the current one, urging the region to acknowledge and align with the administration’s development priorities.
Addressing what he described as uninformed claims, Umahi also clarified that the recently commissioned 30 km section of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway has no structural defects.
He explained that reports of cracks were misinterpreted, noting that these occurred only on the sand-filled shoulders, not the main carriageway.
The Minister made the clarifications during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, where he also provided updates on ongoing road construction and rehabilitation efforts across the country.
On the need for the South East region to support President Tinubu’s second term bid, he said, “I saw where a group claimed I was speaking only for myself when I said the Southeast should support another region first if we want our turn at the presidency. That’s not just my personal view, it’s a strategic truth”.
He noted that his critics failed to challenge the facts he presented about infrastructure development, saying, “They didn’t counter my arguments about the President’s infrastructure achievements in the Southeast.
“Instead, they attacked me personally. But I ask: in the last administration, did we have appointments and infrastructure? No. Now we have infrastructure, a tangible benefit.”
He emphasised that his comments were rooted in political realism and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s democratic dynamics, noting, “They did not address the infrastructure achievements in the Southeast under this administration.
“Instead, they attacked me personally. In the last administration, we had neither appointments nor infrastructure.
“Today, we have infrastructure, that is progress.”
He further challenged narratives accusing him of prioritizing development over immediate welfare while in office as a governor, “Some claim I created Dubai in Ebonyi while people were hungry.
“But how else do you stimulate the economy during a recession if not through infrastructure? That’s how you teach people to fish, not by giving them fish. Even my governor is following suit, investing in infrastructure.”
The Minister stressed that political realities require Southeast leaders and citizens to make strategic decisions rather than being swayed by populist sentiment.
On Igbo presidency, the Minister spoke directly to questions about the timing of an Igbo presidency, reiterating that political power is not handed over without preparation and patience.
He said: “Let’s stop deceiving ourselves. Sentimentality won’t get us to the presidency. It takes strategy, dialogue, and alliances. Politics is about reciprocity, rub my back, I rub yours. We can’t expect to win by isolating ourselves.
“When people ask, ‘When will it be our turn?’ I respond, God’s time makes all things beautiful. This is a political pregnancy that must not be aborted. When the time comes, an Igbo presidency will span eight years, not four.
“For now, it’s President Tinubu’s turn. He has launched reforms that must be completed. Anyone believing they can prematurely take over is living in an illusion. Hope is good, but we must remain realistic.”
“When our time comes, we will support one of our own, for those who are most qualified, who can account for their stewardship.”
Calling for political education, truth-telling, and unity, the Minister stressed, “Let us educate our people. Let us tell them the truth. Let us stop being deceived. Because when our time comes, we will be ready with dignity, competence, and unity.”
Addressing structural issues on the commissioned 30 kilometres of 47.47 kilometres Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Minister clarified that recent observations of cracks were limited to the sand-filled shoulders of the road and did not affect the main carriageway.
“These cracks are not on any section of the actual road. They appeared on the untreated sand shoulders and are the result of natural water erosion.
“No completed section of the carriageway has cracked and none will, once we complete the underground drainage and ducting systems,” he explained.
He further revealed that a new contract was being finalized with the Lagos State Government to complete service lanes and integrate the necessary drainage infrastructure, ensuring the long-term integrity of the project.
On bridge infrastructure, the Minister noted that the Third Mainland and Carter Bridges remain closed to heavy-duty vehicles pending final technical evaluations and approval from the Federal Executive Council.
“Over-height trucks have caused structural damage to several flyovers. To address this, we are designing reinforced gantries fitted with spikes, and increasing the clearance height from 5.6 metres to 6.5 metres to prevent further damage and ensure public safety.”
Giving an update on ongoing road projects, he stressed that a sweeping wave of infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction is underway across the country, with the Government intensifying interventions on multiple highways, bridges, and strategic corridors to boost connectivity and economic resilience.
In Lagos, he said emergency repairs are ongoing along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway following severe flooding and drainage collapse.
Meanwhile, the Ibadan–Ife–Ilesha Road, initially awarded in 2019, is undergoing full concrete reconstruction after early sections failed, he said.
The Minister disclosed that major contractors, including KOPEC and Hitech Construction Company Ltd, have been mobilised across South-West roads, with additional work now stretching into the Ife–Akure–Benin corridor and the Ibadan–Oyo Road.
In the South-East, he explained that delays on the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway prompted a reshuffle of contractors, prompting a split of the project between the original firm and SKCC, now handling a ₦150 billion 72 km section.
According to him, similar urgency has been extended to the First Niger Bridge–Summit Junction corridor, currently under emergency procurement.
He said nationwide, the government is deploying palliative measures on roads rendered impassable, including the Lokoja–Abuja Bridge, the Keffi Flyover in the FCT, and flood-prone corridors in the North-East.
According to him, the Gombe–Bauchi–Kano–Maiduguri axis is seeing fresh mobilization, with contractors working to elevate washed-out road segments and reinforce critical infrastructure.
He also pointed out that funding challenges, especially on NNPC-backed roads, have forced a reevaluation of priorities.
While some zones like the South-East initially received as little as 4 percent allocation, the Minister affirmed that “no project will be abandoned,” as the President has directed ministries to explore new funding sources.
He said the Government is also pursuing legacy concrete road projects such as the 439 km Akwanga–Jos–Gombe route.
In Niger and Taraba states, bridges and roads are being redesigned to meet new safety standards following years of neglect and underperformance, he also said.
The Minister stressed that only contractors with demonstrated capacity and financial commitment will be allowed to proceed, saying, “We must see the money, the equipment, and the commitment.
“And when a contractor is removed, there must be no more than a one-week gap before the next takes over.”
