- Tinubu’s Legacy Highways Built to Last 100 Years – Umahi
- Says Tinubu’s Road Projects Will Transform Nigeria’s Economy
- Urges Constructive Criticism
Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the road infrastructure projects being executed under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu are strategic long-term investments aimed at transforming the nation’s economy.
Eko Hot Blog reports on Umahi made the remarks on Friday during an inspection tour of federal road projects in the South-East, including sites in Afikpo.
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He noted that the projects are part of a broader national plan to connect major cities and strengthen economic development across the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant, Francis Nwaze, the minister described the President’s four flagship legacy road projects as historic investments designed to last for generations.
According to him, the projects are interconnected and built with reinforced concrete to ensure durability and minimal maintenance over time.
“All the four legacy projects of the President are interconnected. They will last a hundred years with little or no maintenance,” Umahi said.
He explained that the government is shifting from traditional asphalt roads to stronger concrete highways capable of handling heavy traffic and harsh environmental conditions.
Umahi cited the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway as an example, noting that investors have already expressed interest in tolling sections of the road to recover project costs.
“Sections one and two of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway have attracted investors who are eager to toll the road and pay back the Federal Government the entire cost,” he said.
The minister also called on critics to offer constructive feedback while emphasising the need for patriotism in national discourse.
“Those criticizing us should do so constructively. Opposition does not mean speaking without knowledge,” he said, urging Nigerians to assess the records of political actors before questioning the achievements of the current administration.
Umahi added that road construction projects are currently ongoing across different parts of the country, with many of them being executed using reinforced concrete to improve longevity.
He expressed confidence that by the end of President Tinubu’s eight-year tenure, most of the nation’s roads would have been rebuilt and integrated with the legacy highway network.
During the inspection, the minister also provided updates on the Dangote Tax Credit Road initiative linking Afikpo in Ebonyi State to Uturu in Abia State and extending to Okigwe in Imo State.
The project involves about 69 kilometres of reinforced concrete road and is being handled by HiTech Construction Company, the same firm executing major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Lagos–Badagry Expressway.
Umahi noted that the project was initially designed as a 60 kilometre dual carriageway approved in 2003 at a cost of ₦103 billion, but rising construction costs led to a restructuring of the plan.
He explained that the government decided to construct a 12-metre wide single carriageway covering 60 kilometres, with an additional nine kilometres from the Afikpo Amasiri axis, bringing the total project length to 69 kilometres.
The minister also raised concerns over the slow pace of work in some sections but said the issue had been addressed by removing the official responsible for the delay.
Umahi further disclosed that the proposed Calabar–Abuja Super Highway corridor forms a key component of the Federal Government’s long-term infrastructure strategy. The corridor is expected to run through several states before terminating in Abuja, improving regional connectivity and boosting economic activities.
He added that one section of the corridor covering about 125.35 kilometres has a contract value of approximately ₦454 billion, with 30 per cent of the payment already made.
Umahi commended the contractors for maintaining high engineering standards, expressing satisfaction with the quality of work being delivered.
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