56 Remarkable Projects David Umahi Attracted to the South-East, Redefining Regional Infrastructure

56 Remarkable Projects David Umahi Attracted to the South-East, Redefining Regional Infrastructure

– Reinforce ‘Lion of the East’ Reputation

Dez Mayorz Report

The South-East has witnessed one of its most ambitious eras of federal road and bridge infrastructure development, with 56 major projects either completed, ongoing, or executed as emergency interventions under the leadership of the Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON.

Since assuming office in May 2023, Umahi has spearheaded an unprecedented wave of strategic road rehabilitation, highway dualisation, bridge construction, flyover development, and emergency interventions across the five South-East states and adjoining corridors, earning widespread recognition from many stakeholders as the “Lion of the East.”

The projects, stretching across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, as well as connecting routes into Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Kogi, Delta and Nasarawa States, are aimed at improving transportation, reducing travel time, boosting commerce, enhancing regional integration, and supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on infrastructure renewal.

Major Completed Projects

Among the flagship projects completed between May 2023 and May 2026 are:

* Rehabilitation of the Umuahia-Aba section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
* Construction of the iconic 23-span Eke-Obinagu Flyover in Enugu State.
* Completion of the Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway.
* Reconstruction of the collapsed New Artisan Bridge in Enugu.
* Construction of a new bridge at Akpoha in Ebonyi State.
* Rehabilitation of the Enugu-Lokpanta section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

These completed projects have significantly improved traffic flow and enhanced connectivity across major commercial corridors in the region.

Expanding Regional Connectivity

Several strategic mega projects are currently progressing simultaneously, including:

* Dualisation of the Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Road.
* Construction of the Abakpa Interchange in Enugu.
* Construction of the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja Highway.
* Reconstruction of the Afikpo-Okigwe Road.
* Rehabilitation of the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Highway.
* Rehabilitation of the Aba-Owerri Expressway.
* Reconstruction and completion of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
* Construction of the Abakaliki-Afikpo Road.
* Reconstruction of the Amasiri-Okposi-Uburu-Mpu-Ishiagu-Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor.
* Construction of multiple flyovers and reinforced concrete pavements across Ebonyi and Enugu States.

According to infrastructure analysts, many of these roads serve as critical economic corridors linking the South-East with the South-South, North-Central and other parts of the country, thereby facilitating trade, agriculture, logistics and industrial development.

Emergency Interventions Save Critical Roads

Beyond mega infrastructure projects, the Federal Ministry of Works has also undertaken extensive emergency repairs and palliative works on deteriorating federal roads.

These interventions include washout restorations, flood control projects, culvert construction, bridge diversions, township road rehabilitation, drainage improvements and emergency repairs across numerous locations in Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia States.

The interventions have restored access to several communities previously threatened by erosion, flooding and failed road infrastructure.

Comprehensive List of the 56 Projects

Completed Projects (1–6)

1. Rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Road Section II (Umuahia-Aba Township Rail/Road Bridge Crossing), Abia.
2. Construction of the 23-span Eke-Obinagu Flyover, Enugu.
3. Construction of Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway.
4. Reconstruction of the collapsed New Artisan Bridge, Enugu.
5. Construction of a new bridge at Akpoha, Ebonyi.
6. Rehabilitation of Enugu-Lokpanta section of Enugu-Port Harcourt Road.

Selected Ongoing Projects (7–26)

1. Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Road Section I.
2. Abakpa Junction Interchange, Enugu.
3. Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja Road Section I.
4. Reconstruction and dualisation of Afikpo-Okigwe Road.
5. Access Road to the Second Niger Bridge (Phase 2B).
6. Rehabilitation and dualisation of Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Road.
7. Rehabilitation of Aba-Owerri Road.
8. Rehabilitation of Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.
9. Ikot Ekpene Border-Aba-Owerri Dualisation (Phase II).
10. Ikot Ekpene Border-Aba-Owerri Dualisation (Phase I).
11. Rehabilitation of Enugu-Lokpanta Road (dual carriageway).
12. Obubura-Oferekpe Road.
13. Completion of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.
14. Reconstruction of Amasiri-Okposi-Uburu-Mpu-Ishiagu-Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor.
15. Dualisation of Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road.
16. Construction of Abakaliki-Afikpo Road.
17. Reconstruction of Enugu-Abakaliki Road with flyover and CRCP pavement.
18. Construction of Amasiri-Okposi Federal Road with flyover.
19. Construction of Ukwuachi and Ishieke Flyovers.
20. Rescoped completion of Enugu-Onitsha Dual Carriageway.

Emergency Repairs and Special Intervention Projects (27–56)

1. Rehabilitation of Oba-Nnewi-Arondizogu Federal Road.
2. Rehabilitation of Ihiala-Orlu-Umuduru corridor.
3. Rehabilitation of Ama Nkwo-Nkw Alabo Road.
4. Ama John-Umuahihie-Uzoagba Road (Phase II).
5. Ama John-Umuahihie-Uzoagba Road (Phase III).
6. Rehabilitation of Orlu-Ihiala Road spur.
7. Rehabilitation of Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road.
8. Washout restoration on Onitsha-Owerri Dual Carriageway.
9. Washout reinstatement on Onitsha-Owerri Road.
10. Emergency repairs on Onitsha-Owerri Road.
11. Flood restoration at Enuagu-Ummugama-Amaigele Road, Ukwulu.
12. Emergency repairs on Onitsha-Owerri Road (Owerri bound).
13. Repair of Central School-College Road, Umuchu.
14. Emergency repairs on Onitsha-Owerri Road (Onitsha bound).
15. Emergency repairs on Ekwulobia-Oko-Ibinta-Umunze Road.
16. Emergency repairs on Amawobia-Nise-Agulu-Ekwulobia-Uga Road.
17. Rehabilitation of Abakaliki-Oferekpe Road (Phase I).
18. Rehabilitation of Nara-Onicha-Okposi Road with spur to Uburu Nkerefi.
19. Rehabilitation of Abakaliki-Oferekpe Road (Phase II).
20. Rehabilitation of Mpu-Uburu Road.
21. Section I of David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital access project, Uburu.
22. Rehabilitation of Abaomege-Afikpo Road.
23. Rehabilitation of Abakaliki-Orie Ogbe-Nstokkara-Oferekpe Road.
24. Rehabilitation of Ugep-Ediba-Itigidi-Adadama-Ekureku-Abomege Road.
25. Rehabilitation and construction of Okigwe-Afikpo-Cross River Border Road with spur to Out Nkalu Beach.
26. Rehabilitation of 9th Mile-Ogbede-Ugwunani-Aku-Nkporogwu-Uzowani Road.
27. Rehabilitation of Trans-Ekulu Township Roads, Enugu.
28. Construction of culverts and drainage at flood-prone sections along the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.
29. Rehabilitation of Mpu-Ndiabor-Port Harcourt Expressway.
30. Emergency construction of a double-cell box culvert and 600-metre road diversion at the collapsed bridge site along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road near the NNPC Mega Station in Enugu.

Driving Economic Growth

Observers say the scale of ongoing construction reflects one of the largest concentrations of federal infrastructure investments in the South-East in recent decades.

The projects are expected to improve logistics, enhance road safety, stimulate private investment, reduce transportation costs, create employment opportunities, and strengthen economic integration within the South-East and between neighbouring geopolitical zones.

For many residents and stakeholders, the extensive infrastructure footprint has reinforced David Umahi’s reputation as one of the most active Works Ministers in Nigeria’s recent history, with supporters describing his tenure as a defining chapter in the transformation of federal road infrastructure across the South-East.

Chidiebele Okoye Stephens,
Dez Mayorz Report.