Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving two major federal highway projects in the South-East, describing the move as a deliberate effort to rebuild the region after decades of infrastructure neglect. The governor said the projects would transform economic activities, improve regional connectivity and help heal historical divisions.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo has commended President Bola Tinubu over the approval of two strategic federal road projects linking parts of the South-East with neighbouring regions, saying the development reflects a conscious commitment by the Federal Government to reverse years of infrastructural decay.
In a statement shared on Wednesday, the Anambra governor described the approvals as a landmark decision that could reshape transportation, commerce and regional integration across the South-East.
According to Soludo, the Federal Government approved the design and procurement of two major highway corridors covering about 258 kilometres.
The projects include roads expected to improve connectivity between Anambra, Kogi, Imo and Abia States, creating faster movement of people and goods while strengthening links between the South-East, South-South and North-Central regions.
Reacting to the approvals, Soludo said the projects were not isolated interventions but part of what he described as President Tinubu’s deliberate plan to rebuild critical infrastructure in the South-East.
The governor argued that improved road infrastructure would stimulate economic growth, reduce travel time, encourage investment and enhance regional competitiveness, adding that history would remember leaders who invest in projects with lasting national impact.
Infrastructure experts have long argued that poor road networks have constrained trade and industrial expansion across parts of the South-East.
The newly approved highways are expected to ease the movement of agricultural produce, manufactured goods and commercial traffic while reducing transportation costs for businesses operating within and beyond the region. Observers also believe the projects could boost interstate commerce by improving access to key economic corridors.
Soludo’s remarks are likely to generate political debate given Nigeria’s increasingly polarised political landscape.
While supporters of the administration have welcomed the projects as evidence of increased federal investment in the South-East, critics have argued that road construction remains a constitutional responsibility of government and should not be viewed as political favour. The approvals have nevertheless renewed conversations about infrastructure development in the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For Governor Soludo, the significance of the projects extends beyond road construction. He believes they represent an opportunity to reconnect communities, expand economic opportunities and address longstanding infrastructure deficits. Whether the projects meet public expectations will ultimately depend on their timely execution and completion, but their approval has already become one of the day’s most talked-about political developments.