The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu is working “very, very hard” to ensure the completion of the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway before the end of 2025.
Speaking with journalists after inspecting the Aba section of the project on Sunday, Umahi confirmed that significant progress had been recorded on the road, which is one of the major transport corridors linking the South-East and South-South regions.
According to him, about 85 per cent of work on the Aba–Umuahia stretch has been completed, while the Aba–Port Harcourt section has reached roughly 60 per cent.
“The public should know that the President is working very, very hard to complete this road,” Umahi said. “For the Aba to Port Harcourt section, about 60 per cent has been done, and for Aba to Umuahia, we’ve achieved over 85 per cent. I’m very happy with the quality of work by Arab Contractors. They are one of our best.”
He directed the Federal Controller of Works in Abia State to carry out weekly inspections of all ongoing federal road projects in the state to ensure early detection of problems and prevent road failures.
“You should be able to visit all the projects in Abia once a week, so that if there are impending dangers, you let us know,” he instructed.
Umahi emphasised that President Tinubu had made road rehabilitation and reconstruction a national priority, especially those that were in poor condition when the administration came into office.
He disclosed that the Federal Government had adopted the use of concrete pavements for road construction, noting that such roads could last between 50 and 100 years.
“So that any road the President fixes will remain durable for the next 50 to 100 years,” he added.
Addressing concerns that persistent rainfall was delaying work, Umahi dismissed the excuse, saying that experienced contractors could still work effectively during the rainy season by applying proper engineering methods.
“There is a system whereby you can do earthwork during the rain using a combination of methods, including tankering. It’s a process that allows water to drain effectively from the road surface,” he explained.
The minister warned contractors against delivering substandard work, revealing that he had already ordered the removal of some expatriates from a site due to poor performance.
“I was on one of the roads today, and I wasn’t happy with what I saw. I ordered the expatriates to be sacked because this is engineering, not a colour matter. If the project is not going well, we must take action,” Umahi declared.
He expressed satisfaction with the completed sections of the expressway, describing them as “very beautiful” and “without any failure.”
Umahi also disclosed that the Federal Government was considering introducing tolls on completed roads through public-private partnerships to ensure regular maintenance.
“The new concrete roads will require almost zero maintenance for the next 50 years,” he noted.
Project Manager of Arab Contractors, Mr. Sherif Fadel, said the slow pace of work was partly due to persistent rainfall and earlier funding delays, but noted that payments had now improved.
