Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has rejected allegations that the Federal Government has concentrated road projects in the South-East geopolitical zone, saying the distribution of ongoing interventions is based on federal approvals and development priorities.
Umahi made the clarification while inspecting the Trans-Sahara Highway project, a major corridor linking communities across several states.
The minister said federal road projects under his ministry were being implemented across the country rather than being concentrated in one geopolitical zone.
Trans-Sahara Highway
The Trans-Sahara Highway corridor being inspected by the minister begins from Afikpo in Ebonyi State, passes through Ador in Benue State and Nsukka in Enugu State, traverses sections of Kogi State and terminates at the Owete Bridge connecting the route to the Federal Capital Territory.
Umahi said the project was an example of a road intervention extending beyond a single geopolitical region.
He also directed the contractor handling the project to work simultaneously on three sections in an effort to accelerate construction.
Minister Defends Project Distribution
The minister said claims circulating that he had “cornered” road projects to the South-East were unfounded.
According to Umahi, the projects being executed by the Ministry of Works were based on approvals granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and were distributed according to federal development priorities.
The minister also rejected suggestions that existing highways had been abandoned in favour of new road corridors.
The controversy comes amid continuing public scrutiny of federal infrastructure spending and the geographic distribution of major road projects.
Umahi said the ministry would continue implementing projects across different parts of the country while monitoring construction quality and delivery.