The Minister of Works, David Umahi, carried out an unscheduled inspection of ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation works on Section II (Umuahia Tower–Aba) of the Enugu–Port Harcourt dual carriageway, managed by Messrs Arab Contractors Limited.
The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s pace and quality of work, giving them one month to complete the remaining 4.1 kilometres (Aba-bound) segment, according to a statement by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed.
Following the expiry of a 14-day notice of contract termination, Umahi also visited works on Section IV (Aba–Port Harcourt) handled by CCECC (Nigeria) Limited, reiterating his commitment to high engineering standards.
During a previous visit, he had voiced concerns over non-adherence to approved standards and slow progress, with intervention from Governor Alex Otti averting contract revocation.
The road project, initially awarded in January 2017, spans 41.4 kilometres from Aba in Abia State to Eleme Junction Flyover in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and was intended for completion within 30 months.
Umahi emphasised the road’s strategic importance, linking ports, refineries, petrochemical, and fertilizer plants, while enhancing socio-economic life and traffic flow along the corridor.
In a symbolic move, Umahi handed over several federal roads in Abia State to Governor Otti at a grand civic reception at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, including Owerri–Umuaka Road, Onuigbo–Umuahia Road, Omezuo Bridge, and Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road.
The handover, approved by President Bola Tinubu, enables the state government to oversee their completion.
Commending Otti’s proactive approach, Umahi called on other state governors to emulate the model, noting that many federal projects have suffered funding constraints over the years.
He also urged residents to support the government and endorse Tinubu for a second term, highlighting ongoing and completed federal road projects across the South-east as evidence of balanced infrastructure development.
Responding, Otti expressed gratitude to the President for the approval, noting that the state’s intervention would add value to both Abia and Nigeria as a whole, continuing a tradition of assisting federal project execution.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, concluded a one-week technical visit to China with a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
The visit, part of an existing Technical Cooperation Agreement, focused on infrastructure development, technology transfer, PPPs, and youth capacity building.
During engagements with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and XCMG, Goronyo highlighted ongoing and future collaborations to enhance Nigeria’s road network and youth technical skills, commending Chinese firms for their investment in PPP projects and CSR initiatives aimed at employment and self-reliance.
