The Federal Government is set to inaugurate two vital sections of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Abia State before the end of the year, marking a major milestone in ongoing efforts to boost infrastructure in the South-East and South-South regions.
Truth Live News gathered the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection tour and meeting with Governor Alex Otti at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
“The Umuahia-to-Aba section, handled by Arab Contractors, is on track for inauguration in December,” Umahi announced.
“The Port Harcourt-to-Aba route will be ready earlier in November.”
These two expressway segments are seen as strategic economic arteries, connecting key commercial hubs and reducing the travel time between major cities.
While celebrating the progress, Umahi also drew attention to the broader funding challenge inherited by the Tinubu administration.
“We inherited 2,604 federal road projects valued at ₦13 trillion in 2023, but today, the total cost has risen above ₦20 trillion,” he said.
Due to the rising costs, he encouraged state governments to rehabilitate certain federal roads without expecting reimbursement, but to toll them as a means of recovering investment.
Umahi lauded Governor Otti for his support in facilitating construction work, including the removal of traders and waste along critical sections of the road.
“Otti is a man with a golden heart. His cooperation shows that non-partisan collaboration accelerates development,” Umahi said.
He stressed that President Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure has been winning broad support across political lines in the South-East.
“All the governors of the South-East are standing with the President. Politics cannot override long-standing relationships when it comes to national development,” Umahi declared.
The Minister cited other ongoing federal projects in the region such as:
Aba–Ikot Ekpene Road
Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road
The newly awarded Afikpo Road
He said the President would soon visit Abia State to inaugurate completed projects, including the newly reconstructed sections of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
In his response, Governor Otti affirmed the importance of federal-state collaboration in advancing socio-economic development.
“This is about governance, not politics,” Otti said. “We’re already seeing the benefits, especially on trade routes. Freight forwarders tell us that goods now move from the wharf in Rivers to Aba in hours instead of days.”
He thanked the Federal Government for supporting critical infrastructure in Abia, including the recently completed Port Harcourt Road in Aba, which has significantly improved logistics and commerce.
This move signals a long-awaited turnaround for a region often marginalized in federal infrastructure investments. The Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway is not just a road, it’s a trade lifeline. Its reconstruction is expected to enhance commerce, boost regional integration, and accelerate economic recovery across the South-East and South-South zones.
In a time of fiscal constraints, the federal government’s focus on these regions, coupled with governors’ cooperative posture, may well represent a model for results-driven federalism.