The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed as false and deceptive a recent social media publication alleging that the Southeast geopolitical zone is excluded from the Federal Government’s infrastructure projects.
The controversial article, authored by one Mr. Linus Anagboso (popularly known as D-Big Pen) and titled “The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East Missing from the Map?”, accused the Bola Tinubu administration of sidelining the region in road development.
Reacting on Monday, Umahi described the publication as “mischievous, misleading and aimed at inciting the public.”
He warned that such misinformation must not be allowed to stand and demanded that the writer immediately retract the claims.
“Politics is in the air, and some have chosen the path of deception. They want to look good before the people by pretending to fight for them while closing their eyes to the massive infrastructure President Tinubu is delivering across Nigeria,” Umahi said in a statement issued from the Ministry's headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja.
Setting the record straight, the Minister stated that the Southeast is fully captured in one of President Tinubu’s four Legacy Projects — the 465km Cross River–Ebonyi–Benue–Kogi–Nasarawa–Abuja corridor.
According to him, the Southeast portion covers 231.64km, with ₦445.8 billion already awarded for the project and ₦108 billion paid.
He explained that the recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of July 31, 2025, only approved a review of the corridor length from 118km to 231.64km, a detail which he said Mr. Anagboso deliberately misrepresented.
“This deceptive writer falsely labelled the road as Oyo–Benue border project to mislead and provoke public outcry. It is unfortunate and dishonest,” Umahi said.
Umahi listed several ongoing road and bridge infrastructure projects in the Southeast under President Tinubu’s administration.
These in his words, included Second Niger Bridge access roads: Section 2A (Delta) – ₦146 billion, Section 2B (Anambra) – ₦176 billion, Enugu–Onitsha Expressway (208km) – ₦202 billion under MTN Tax Credit; remaining sections handled by CBC at ₦150 billion, with ₦45 billion recently released; and Enugu–Port Harcourt Road – undergoing reconstruction in four sections.
Others he said, included Enugu–Abakaliki Road, Afikpo–Abia–Imo Road, Onitsha–Owerri–Aba Road, Aba–Ikot Ekpene Road, and Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road.
He noted that many of these projects had been abandoned since 2013 but have now been revived and are progressing steadily.
The Minister urged Southeast citizens to support President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as fair, inclusive, and committed to national development.
“We must not allow misinformation to deceive our people again. President Tinubu has shown us love. He deserves our full support not only for now but for the future,” he said.
He called for 90% electoral support for the President in the Southeast, insisting that future ambitions for national leadership would only be realized through national cooperation and unity.
"We must stop the politics of hate and sentiment. If we want to lead Nigeria one day, we must first learn to support others,” Umahi added.
The Minister also commended Southeast governors for backing President Tinubu’s administration and urged the public to support their second-term bids.
“Never again shall we be deceived. Let us open our eyes to the light of progress,” he concluded.
