FIC Report (Ebonyi State) – The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has urged the people of Afikpo Local Government Area to vote massively for President Bola Tinubu in next year’s presidential election, saying they are major beneficiaries of federal government projects.
He stated this on weekend while inspecting ongoing N55bn Ndibe bridge project in Afikpo, Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State to link Calabar Coastal highway.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the site. He added that work is seriously on the project not to be caught up with the raining season. Umahi said only N3bn have been given to the contractor out of about N55bn it costs to construct the bridge.
He disclosed that launching of the beams of the bridge which will soon commence, will be by the most sophisticated new method. He said a crane will be running from pear cap of the bridge carrying the beams instead of moving on the ground.
The Minister opined that the idea is to finish the entire super structure excluding the beams before May this year. He described the work on the bridge as very innovative, beautiful and neat.
The CGECC contractors have done very well. I am not sure they have been paid over N3bn. The contract is about N55bn and they have been paid only N3bn. This is one of the expatriates that are in partnership with the federal government and I am very sure that they will be paid but they are not waiting for payment and they are moving.
And so, the idea is to finish the entire super structure minus the beams before the May tide will come. But this is very innovative, very beautiful and neat work”, Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State stated.
The Minister said in addition to the Ndibe bridge being constructed in the community, the President was also constructing tran-sharan coastal highway in the area which will connect to other states and countries.
From April this year, we are going to be sending our Engineers, our young Engineers in the 36 states and FCT and it is called President Tinubu Engineering mentorship program whereby in every state, we take some people that are Engineers maybe they don’t have work but they have graduated and then take some people that are mechanics and drivers and then, we train them under this kind of gigantic project”, he said.
BAKARE LAURETTA
HOC FIC ABAKALIKI
15/3/2026
