During the consideration of the 2024 Amended Appropriation Bill, Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Senate and representative of Ebonyi North Senatorial District, made a pivotal intervention that led to the recognition and correction of a significant omission in the national infrastructure plan.
Senator Nwebonyi, raising a point of observation on the floor of the Senate, pointed out that a key portion of the African Trans-Sahara Highway project had been incorrectly documented.
Specifically, he noted that Cross River and Ebonyi States—critical transit points for the highway connecting southeastern to central Nigeria were omitted from the project description in the schedule.
“There’s an omission on the description of some of the roads mentioned here, like under the national highway construction projects paragraph 3, African Tran-Sahara Highway. It is supposed to read to traverse Cross River - Ebonyi - Benue - Kogi - Nasarawa to Abuja. Cross River and Ebonyi were omitted, Your Excellency. That’s on page 11 of the schedule, sir,” Senator Nwebonyi said.
His detailed observation triggered immediate acknowledgment from the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who directed the Clerk of the National Assembly to take note and ensure the correction is reflected in the final version of the budget document.
This development is seen as a major win for the people of Ebonyi and the broader South-East and North-Central zones, as the affected route connecting Cross River through Ebonyi and Benue to Abuja is a vital economic and strategic corridor for trade, mobility, and national integration.
Reacting to the Senator’s intervention, Comrade Collins Chijioke Idenyi, APC Zonal Youth Leader for Ebonyi North, commended Senator Nwebonyi’s vigilance and commitment to inclusive representation.
He noted that the lawmaker’s action underscored his broader dedication to the entire state and not just his immediate constituency.
“Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi’s diligent work pays off. His prompt intervention ensured that the Ebonyi-Benue-Abuja link road project was not only acknowledged but officially incorporated into the amended budget.
"This achievement is a testament to his commitment to equitable development and effective representation. May God continue to strengthen him for greater service to Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large," Idenyi said.
The correction of the Trans-Sahara Highway route in the amended Appropriation Bill is expected to have wide-reaching implications, improving regional connectivity, stimulating economic activities, and reinforcing federal attention on underserved corridors.
Senator Nwebonyi’s move has been widely hailed as an example of responsible legislative oversight and a firm demonstration of proactive representation in the interest of national development.
Victor Nwegede
