FG to Open Completed Portion of 15km Enugu–Onitsha Expressway

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The federal government has announced plans to inaugurate  a completed 15-kilometre stretch of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway to traffic before Easter, in a move aimed at easing transportation challenges and boosting economic activities in Nigeria’s South-east.

This is even as the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that the government inherited a total of N13trillion in debts and over 2,068 projects across the country. 

Umahi disclosed this yesterday, during an inspection tour of ongoing federal road projects in Enugu. The visit forms part of a nationwide tour across the six geopolitical zones to identify projects ready for inauguration  ahead of May 29.

Addressing journalists, Umahi said that the completion of the road segment underscores the federal government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the region.

“The people of the South-east ought to be very grateful to Mr President. We never had it like this,” he said. “There is no discrimination. The same quality you see in Lagos-Calabar is what we are bringing here. This is a national infrastructure revolution.” 

The minister noted that the current administration inherited significant financial liabilities but remains determined to deliver critical road projects nationwide.

“We inherited a very terrible debt of over N13 trillion and 2,068 projects as of May 2023. You cannot drive through any road in this country for one hour without encountering bad roads. That is becoming history based on what the President is doing,” Umahi stated.

He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the Enugu–Onitsha corridor, describing it as one of the most strategic routes in the South-East. 

“The road, alongside the Enugu–Port Harcourt highway, has long been plagued by traffic congestion, tanker accidents, and deteriorating pavement conditions,”he said. “But the complaints about bad roads are becoming a thing of the past.” 

The minister further revealed that the Enugu–Port Harcourt dual carriageway, spanning approximately 214 kilometres, is being redesigned to incorporate concrete pavement on at least 50 per cent of its length—a shift from the traditional asphalt approach.

He also acknowledged the support of Peter Mbah in facilitating compensation and relocation of utilities along the project corridor. “I appealed to him to help us with the payment of compensation… he sprang into action and over 90 per cent has been done. He paid about N500 million, and we are expected to pay the remaining,” Umahi said.

While admitting that funding delays have slowed progress, the minister expressed confidence that work would accelerate once payments are made.

“I am aware that this contractor has not received payment. I will not blame them for the slow pace of work. If you don’t pay, they don’t work. As soon as they are paid, we will see accelerated work,” he added.

Umahi assured  the people that the projects would significantly improve mobility and stimulate economic activities in the region, stressing that sustained support for the administration would help consolidate the gains recorded so far in the South-east.