The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, has directed contractors handling the ongoing 300-kilometre Trans-Sahara Highway project to minimise the demolition of houses and other properties along the road alignment, even as communities in the Benue axis of the project pledged their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of the Federal Government’s Trans-Sahara Highway project at the weekend, assuring residents and other stakeholders that the government was committed to delivering the strategic road infrastructure while reducing its impact on host communities.
The Minister explained that Section One of the Trans-Sahara Highway covered approximately 123 kilometres from the Ebonyi axis to the Ebonyi-Benue boundary, while Section Two extended about 173.4 kilometres through parts of Benue, Enugu and Kogi states to the Benue River-Nasarawa boundary.
According to him, the combined length of the two sections was approximately 300 kilometres and, at a design speed of 100 kilometres per hour, the completed highway would substantially reduce travel time and improve connectivity across the affected regions.
He said the project would have far-reaching economic implications for the South-East, North-Central and South-South regions, particularly by strengthening agricultural supply chains, facilitating trade and expanding commercial activities.
He further disclosed that an approximately 8.9-kilometre bypass around Afikpo and onward to the Timbershed area would be dualised as part of the broader intervention.
Expressing satisfaction with the commitment of the contractor handling Section Two, Umahi said the Federal Government remained committed to completing the project despite financial constraints arising from the volume of road infrastructure projects being executed across the country.
He explained that the administration was prioritising projects in line with available resources, assuring that the Trans-Sahara Highway would be completed by the end of President Tinubu’s second term in office.
The Minister also defended the Federal Government’s handling of projects affected by existing concession agreements, saying the administration had remained mindful of contractual and legal obligations while responding to the needs of road users and host communities.
He urged members of the public and media practitioners to conduct proper investigations before commenting on complex engineering, contractual or legal issues concerning major infrastructure projects.
Umahi said the Federal Government had, where necessary, intervened in areas outside the original scope of some contracts, particularly where such interventions were required to protect citizens’ welfare and improve connectivity.
He also appealed to residents to cooperate with officials conducting enumeration and compensation exercises, assuring affected property owners that the government would fulfil its compensation obligations where applicable.
The Minister commended the people of Benue and other host states for their support, urging them to continue providing a peaceful and secure environment for contractors and workers.
Speaking during the inspection, the traditional ruler of Ndiagu Ishieke Autonomous Community in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, HRH Eze Idenyi Agbo, commended the Federal Government for the ongoing construction.
He described the project as a demonstration of responsive governance and a major intervention capable of transforming the economic fortunes of communities along the corridor.
Eze Agbo particularly praised Umahi for applying his engineering expertise, administrative experience and sensitivity to the cultural heritage of host communities in executing the project.
He said the minister’s decision to ensure that his palace was not demolished during the road construction demonstrated wisdom, maturity and respect for the traditional institution.
According to the monarch, Umahi’s approach had shown that critical infrastructure could be delivered without unnecessarily undermining the historical and cultural assets of host communities.
Eze Agbo expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Umahi for the road intervention, assuring the Federal Government of the community’s cooperation and support for the successful completion of the project.
He consequently declared the community’s support for the re-election of President Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.(New Herald News)
