By Adeyemi Adekunle
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that the long-anticipated rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, particularly the 56.10 km Section II stretching from Umuahia to Aba, is on track for completion and inauguration by June 2025.
The minister made the disclosure during an inspection tour of road projects in the South-East and South-South regions. He expressed optimism regarding the progress made by the contracting company, Arab Contractors. “They are very available to receive and obey instructions,” he stated, assessing the ongoing work with visible satisfaction. The Minister pinpoints that only two kilometers of earthwork and roughly four kilometers of asphalt are yet to be completed, a timeline he believes will be met with the contractor working diligently through the end of April.
This development comes at a critical time, with infrastructure deficits hindering economic growth in the region. The Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway is a crucial artery for movement and commerce, linking major cities and facilitating trade. The ongoing improvements are expected to significantly enhance transportation efficiency and economic activities for residents and businesses along the route.
In addition to the infrastructural advancements, Umahi took the opportunity to comment on political support, urging the people of the South-East to reciprocate President Bola Tinubu’s efforts by ensuring he receives 100 percent of their votes in the upcoming 2027 elections. “I’m the one that is fit to ask for your votes because he has used me to work for you,” Umahi stated, calling for unity and collective action to recognize the government’s efforts in the region.
He emphasized, “What happened before will not happen again,” referring to past dissatisfaction with political representation.
Umahi’s remarks reveal particularly with constituents who have long felt neglected in terms of federal investments and attention. He explains the rehabilitation of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway as part of a broader commitment to restoring faith in governance and ensuring that the region reaps the benefits of federal support.
Amid June’s inauguration date preparation, stakeholders, community leaders, and residents are invited to remain engaged in the process, with hopes that the completed expressway will signal a new era of development and cooperation between the federal government and the South-East region.
The project not only symbolizes infrastructural renewal but also represents a political promise of transformation — one that the local community is eager to see fulfilled.
With the groundwork nearly complete, Umahi’s leadership and the contractor’s commitment to quality work will be scrutinized in the coming months as the deadline draws near. With high expectations resting on this project, the next few weeks will be critical in determining if the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway can indeed be transformed into a vital lifeline for the region’s resurgence.
