Roads: Umahi Canvasses 90% Votes From Southeast Ahead Tinubu's Second Term

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

Engr David Umahi

Ahead of the 2027 general election, Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has canvassed 90 percent votes from the Southeast for President Bola Tinubu’s second term in office. 

This followed massive road projects approved and ongoing by the Federal Executive Council that cut across Southeast States of Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Abia. 

He bared his mind while reacting to a misleading information on social media by one Mr Linus Anagboso (D-Big Pen) captioned: "The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South-East missing from the map?”.

Umahi informed that President Tinubu approved four Legacy Projects that cover the six geopolitical zones, with the South East zone well captured within the Third Legacy project spanning Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-FCT, totalling 465km x 2, with South East covering 231.64km x 2.

"And another 231.64km x 1 for ₦445.8 billion, already awarded and work going on. Mr President has already paid ₦108 billion. What happened in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 31st July 2025 was a review of that corridor from 118kmx 1 to 231.64km x 1 for ₦445.8 billion. 

"This misleading writer chose to change the narrative of my press briefing after the FEC on the Trans Sahara Section 1 (Ebonyi State to Benue State border) – 123.64km at ₦445.8 billion, and deliberately, chose to call it Oyo-Benue Border Road to deceive and incite Nigerians," he said. 

He demanded that Anagboso should correct the misleading information immediately, even if he fails to apologise.

The minister added: "Where was the writer when President Tinubu decided to treat the South East fairly in road infrastructure like other zones?"

"Under his administration, 90% of abandoned projects, some awarded as far back as 2013 were all revived and all are now ongoing. Where is the appreciation for huge ongoing works on the 2nd Niger Bridge Access Roads, 2A, in Delta State, which is valued at ₦146 Billion; and 2B in Anambra State, which is valued at ₦176 Billion; the Enugu-Onitsha Road -208km ( MTN Tax Credit, which is valued at ₦202 Billion; and CBC (Nig.) Limited completing the remaining section at ₦150 Billion of which ₦45Billion was released last week), Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway in four sections, Enugu-Abakaliki, Afikpo-Abia-Imo, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Aba-Ikot Ekpene, Umuahia to Ikot Ekpene roads etc.

"I understand that politics is now in the air, and some people's chosen path is to deceive gullible members of the public, look good before their people as one fighting for them, and close both eyes, pretentiously, over the great and selfless infrastructure development Mr. President is doing all over the nation."

He directed all Ministry of Works’ Zonal Directors back to sites in all the six geopolitical zones to compile all inherited but ongoing projects and all new ones, so that Nigerians would appreciate the tremendous works that Mr. President is doing in all the regions, irrespective of those that voted for him and those that did not. 

The minister assured that Tinubu is using fair distribution of infrastructure to reunite Nigerians and renew their hope, saying that only persons that opened their eyes will see the light of change in Nigeria.

Umahi requested the Southeasterns to rise in support of President Tinubu for demonstrating love and fairness to the people of the zone, adding that Nigerians will never be deceived again. 

He warned that: "Enough of darkening council without knowledge in the Southeast. We must rise to educate our people. If we want to be President, we must avoid the politics of hate, misinformation and sentiments. We must support other zones and with God, one day others will support us. Mr President must be supported to complete his tenure of 8 years, which all regions are benefiting from. One day we will be number one but not in 2027.

"I will vocally continue to stand against any mischief to deceive our people. We are known for hard work and love not hate."

He commended leaders and Southeast governors for their support and great works, urging Southeasterns to support them, along with President Tinubu for a second tenure in their respective offices.