FG Opens 15km Section of Enugu–Onitsha Highway
By Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
The Federal Government on Thursday opened a completed 15-kilometre section of the Enugu–Onitsha Federal Expressway.
The project, which is expected to enhance economic activity and transportation in the South-East and its environs, is estimated to have cost over ₦350 billion.
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, who reopened the section on Thursday, urged the South-East zone to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Speaking at Ngwo, along the Enugu–Onitsha Road where the exercise took place, Umahi described the development as a significant milestone in the ongoing reconstruction of one of the South-East’s most critical transport corridors.
He noted that the reopened section would ease traffic flow and reduce accidents, as the stretch had previously been prone to frequent crashes.
The minister also recalled that the Enugu–Onitsha Road had been in a deplorable condition for years, with commuters spending up to seven hours on a journey that should ordinarily take far less time.
According to him, “Despite being awarded before 2023, the project suffered prolonged delays and was largely abandoned for about eight years.”
Umahi explained that the project was initially executed under a tax credit scheme involving private sector participation but stalled until the current administration intervened.
He added that President Tinubu ordered an acceleration of the works and approved a redesign of key sections to improve durability.
He further stated: “The adoption of concrete technology by Mr President is significant in extending the lifespan of the road. The first 15 kilometres of the reinforced concrete section is about 97 per cent completed and has now been opened to traffic.
“Additional sections, including an 18-kilometre stretch towards Anambra State and a 39-kilometre segment near the Niger Bridge axis, are currently under construction. All these are the works of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South-East alone, and that is why we, the people of the South-East, must vote wisely for his re-election in the 2027 elections.”
The minister added that contractors handling the remaining asphalt portions have been directed to switch to reinforced concrete.
“Concrete roads can last between 50 and 100 years with minimal maintenance, compared to asphalt,” he stressed.
