Trans-Sahara Super Highway Reaches 45 Percent Completion, Says Umahi

From Nwabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has disclosed that Section One of the Trans-Sahara Super Highway project, linking Calabar through Ebonyi State and onward to the northern part of the country, has reached about 45 per cent completion.

The minister also disclosed that one carriageway of the Aba–Ikot Ekpene road has been completed, while work on the second carriageway is ongoing.

Umahi made the disclosure yesterday during an inspection of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway project.

He said the project, which has received substantial funding from the Federal Government, had also created employment opportunities for more than 2,000 Nigerian youths working on the first section.

According to him, the project is one of the Federal Government’s strategic infrastructure interventions aimed at opening up the South-East to greater economic opportunities, improving security and strengthening inter-state connectivity.

“Section One is about 40 per cent; I will give them 45 per cent in completion. The quality of the concrete pavement is top-notch, and I must commend Infiouest, the contractor, for the good-quality job,” Umahi said.

He explained that the first section covers approximately 125.5 kilometres, beginning from the Ndibe Beach axis and passing through communities including Akpoha, Abomege, Amudo and Onueke, as well as parts of Ezza North and Ebonyi Local Government Areas.

The minister said some portions of the alignment were being dualised to accommodate growing economic activities and urban development.

He specifically cited the 8.9-kilometre stretch around Afikpo and a two-kilometre section at Abomege as areas receiving special attention.

Umahi further explained that Section Two, which extends into Benue and other states, covers approximately 173.6 kilometres and has a contract value of about ₦683 billion.

He added that the Federal Government had already paid 30 per cent of the contract sum.

“So there is nothing stopping the contractor from working, and when this project is completed, it will ultimately provide a major transportation corridor linking the South-East with other parts of the country, including Abuja,” he stressed.

The minister said the broader route would facilitate the faster movement of agricultural produce, goods and people, while also improving security through the installation of CCTV surveillance systems and solar-powered lighting infrastructure.

Umahi said the completion of the highway would further boost economic activities along the corridor by improving access to markets, reducing travel time and strengthening connectivity between communities and major commercial centres.

He commended the contractor for the progress recorded so far and urged all stakeholders involved in the project to maintain the pace and quality of work to ensure its timely completion.