FIC Report (Ebonyi State) – Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, has declared that the ongoing federal road and bridge projects across Ebonyi State are part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s legacy infrastructure programme aimed at transforming transportation and boosting economic integration and development in the South East, region.
Umahi made this known during an inspection tour of several ongoing projects in the state, including the Timber Shade–Afikpo Road Phase One, sections of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Kogi–Nasarawa–Abuja superhighway corridor, the Ndibe Beach Afikpo–Cross River Bridge axis and the Edda Road project.
Speaking at different project sites, the minister described the roads as strategic interventions designed to reduce travel time, improve safety, and connect the region more effectively to the national road network for expanded economic advantage.
On the Calabar-Abuja coastal corridor, the minister disclosed that Section One stretches about 123 kilometres from Calabar to the Ebonyi-Benue boundary through Ndibe Beach.
According to him, the project was initially awarded as a single 12-metre reinforced concrete carriageway fitted with solar-powered streetlights at a total cost of N454 billion, adding that the Federal Government had already paid 50 per cent of the contract value.
He further revealed that one kilometre each had been approved for dualisation around Abomege to decongest traffic around the flyover axis.
Umahi also announced that Section Two of the road, spanning 178 kilometres from the Ebonyi-Benue boundary through Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa to Owete Bridge, had commenced at a cost of N685 billion.
The minister said the government was equally procuring a second carriageway for about 295 kilometres of the route to ensure the entire corridor becomes a full dual carriageway.
Earlier, Umahi inspected the Onueke flyover being handled by indigenous contractor H-Link, where he disclosed that foundation works had reached 60 per cent and expressed optimism that the project would be completed by December.
At Akpoha Bridge, he commended another indigenous contractor, Igariwa, for handling the two-kilometre dualisation and earth-filling works, including the Timber Shade flyover where an 80-metre hill is being cut to create a wider road corridor.
The minister also disclosed that the expansion of the Timber Shade to Amasiri Flyover road had been captured in the 2026 budget, with five metres to be added on both sides to meet standard carriageway specifications.
He said the proposed Dangote road project would begin from Amasiri, covering about 65 kilometres toward Okigwe with a 12-metre carriageway and part of a second carriageway.
On the Ndibe Afikpo–Cross River Bridge route, Umahi said plans were underway to construct a bypass around Eke Market and a flyover interchange at Timber Shade to ease congestion. According to him, the bypass would enable motorists to travel from Calabar to Abuja in about four hours without passing through major town centres.
At the Edda Road project, the minister said eight kilometres had been completed out of the planned 10-kilometre first phase and expressed confidence the remaining 53 kilometres would be delivered before December.
Beyond Ebonyi, David Nweze Umahi said inherited and ongoing infrastructure projects nationwide had risen to about N34 trillion.
The minister urged South East leaders to acknowledge Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s interventions in the region and support his re-election in 2027.
BAKARE LAURETTA
HOC FIC ABAKALIKI
21/5/2026
