The federal government has commended the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his administration’s strategic efforts and partnership with President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ramp up infrastructural development in the southeast region.

The government also reaffirmed its commitment to completing the remaining sections of the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourts expressways and the dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki road, which the Governor Mbah Administration is undertaking, describing them as strategic to Ndigbo and Nigeria.

The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, gave the commendation and commitment Sunday evening during the inspection tour of some key road projects of the Federal Government with Dr. Peter Mbah in Enugu.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the inspection, Umahi said, “The Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt, and Enugu to Abakaliki roads are three key projects that are dear to the people of South East. The president has given adequate attention to them, and the governor of Enugu State has also complemented the president’s efforts in developing these sections.

“We have inspected the flyover at Emene NNPC Depot, which was attracted from Mr. President by the governor. That job is ongoing, and I can say that about 40 percent of it is done.

“I am happy that we are doing that flyover because the governor, on his own, undertook to dualize the Enugu-Abakaliki road, and work is ongoing. So, it is a challenge to the FG; hence, you see the people doing the flyover component of that dualization, day and night.”

The Minister frowned at the contractor’s prolonged blockade of parts of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway from Abakpa Junction, Enugu, which caused road users untold hardship.

“We saw that in Abakpa sections, over 3km is being blocked by RCC, which is the sub-contractor of MTN. So, we have agreed and I have called the contractor, that by Tuesday, if they don’t start work, we are going to remove the barricade. The suffering is just too much.

“We also agreed on the flyover components of Enugu-Onitsha that the governor has already concluded with the subcontractor working for MTN. We got involved for him to go ahead and fund it,” he stated.

Umahi equally commended Governor Mbah for undertaking the dualisation of the Abakpa Nike-Ugwogo-Opi Nsukka road as well the completion of part of the Ninth Mile-Opi road.

“I also want to thank the governor very highly, as he is also willing to do that 3km up to Opi junction on the Enugu—Makurdi road. He is willing to put on the wearing course, and I will allow him to do that if, by Tuesday, RCC does not move to the site because people are suffering every day,” he said.

Umahi and Governor Mbah also inspected the ongoing construction of a twin bridge at New Artisan, at the Enugu end of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. The Minister gave the contractors until October 2024 to complete the project.

“I have been here more than ten times since the bridge collapsed. The governor went to see Mr. President, and Mr. President directed immediately that this work be done. This work is being done by CCECC. I must commend them very highly for their quality of work and speed. This is the speed that the Enugu Governor desires, and he is also very happy with this.

“I want to thank the governor that the moment we put a temporary bypass as he demanded of the president, he had to rebuild all the destroyed roads, and I sympathise with him,” he said.

He said that owing to paucity of funds, the FG would allow the Enugu State Government to complete the remaining part of the 61km road starting from Naira Triangle based on FG’s Highway Development Management Initiative, HDMI, which is a PPP arrangement, unless the contractors, DGC Nigeria, were willing to continuously finish the project within the next one year and get paid on milestones basis.

Umahi commended Governor Mbah for placing governance above party differences, stressing that “after elections, we should stop deceiving the people about the party and commit to the campaign promises instead.”

Governor Mbah commended the FG’s commitment to addressing the region’s road infrastructure challenge.

“We know that we are a typical stock in the South East. However, we also understand the importance of building a common market and that a common market cannot happen if we do not have good roads.

“So, we cannot thank Mr President and the Minister enough for the tireless efforts and commitment they have shown to have our roads all paved,” Mbah said.