Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, has restated that the Federal Government’s infrastructural transformation in the South-East will boost massive endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by Ndigbo in next year’s general election.

Umahi made this assertion on Friday while inspecting the Ebonyi section of the Cross River–Abuja Super Highway, one of the legacy road projects being executed by the Federal Government.

Umahi appealed to the people of the region to deliver overwhelming votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.

According to him, “the people of the south-east should support Tinubu‘s re-election in 2027; the region is receiving unprecedented federal infrastructural projects under the current administration.”

He maintained that President Tinubu‘s administration had demonstrated fairness to the south-east through strategic investments in road infrastructure.

“No previous administration had matched the level of development currently taking place in the region.”

He opined, “the ongoing projects are not only improving connectivity but also stimulating economic activities by creating jobs and supporting businesses across the project corridors.

“My assignment is to beg, appeal and educate Nigerians on what the President is doing; people should know that President Tinubu means well for this country. Everything cannot be corrected in three years; he is making very serious efforts, and Nigerians should acknowledge the giant strides being recorded in different sectors.”

He explained that the federal government’s investment in infrastructure was helping to address unemployment and economic hardship, noting that thousands of Nigerians had secured direct and indirect jobs through the ongoing road projects.

The minister said workers, food vendors, transporters, suppliers of sand, stone and other construction materials as well as cement manufacturers were all benefiting from the infrastructure drive.

“The introduction of reinforced concrete pavement is not only about durability, but it is also driving economic revolution; cement manufacturers are recording increased turnover, making more profit and employing more Nigerians.”

Umahi defended the federal government borrowing policy, insisting that the loans were being channelled into capital projects rather than recurrent expenditure.

“The President is not borrowing to buy vehicles or pay salaries; he is borrowing for infrastructure; every nation borrows to develop critical infrastructure; these investments will serve generations to come,” he stated.

The former Ebonyi State governor urged political leaders and residents of the south-east to embrace strategic politics, stressing that the region alone could not determine Nigeria’s presidency.

“Our brother Peter Obi, is contesting for the presidency of the entire country; the voice of the south-east alone cannot produce a President; we must be strategic.”

He added that the region should appreciate the federal government for projects that had placed the south-east at the centre of national infrastructure development.

Umahi disclosed that Section One of the Cross River–Abuja Legacy Highway, covering about 125 kilometres, was nearing completion with more than 30 per cent of the alignment traversing Ebonyi communities.

He said contractors had been directed to employ more local workers to maximise the economic benefits accruing to host communities.

“Section Two of the project, spanning about 168 kilometres through Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu and Kogi States, has also been mobilised after the federal government paid 30 per cent mobilisation to the contractor.

He said the completed highway would significantly reduce travel time between the south-east and the federal capital territory.

“If you are from Ebonyi state, you can get to Abuja in about three hours; if you are from Enugu, you can get there in about two hours; that is the kind of development we are talking about,” he said.

Umahi assured Nigerians that President Tinubu’s legacy road projects would be completed, insisting that the administration would not abandon ongoing projects.

The Minister commended the Ebonyi State government for its cooperation in land acquisition and compensation processes for the highway project, stating there had been no major challenges with property enumeration.

He disclosed that compensation payments would commence after the ongoing review and certification of the enumeration exercise..

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