The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, on Friday dismissed claims that the Federal Government was targeting the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that President Bola Tinubu's performance in the South-East had rendered opposition criticisms ineffective.
Umahi spoke while inspecting ongoing federal road projects in Ebonyi State, where he maintained that the Tinubu administration had made unprecedented investments in road infrastructure across the South-East, urging the region to support the President's re-election in 2027 to ensure the completion of ongoing projects.
According to the minister, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its June 29, 2026 meeting approved road projects worth over N248 billion for Ebonyi State, describing the approvals as further proof of the President's commitment to the development of the South-East.
The approved projects include the 18-kilometre concrete dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Road from EBSU Gate through Spera-In-Deo to Margaret Umahi International Market, valued at about N84 billion; the 21-kilometre dualisation from Onueke towards Ezza South and Ezza North at about N118 billion; and N46 billion for retaining walls, drainage and shoulder works along the Okposi-Amasiri Road.
Umahi said the projects would commence before the middle of August.
"We are standing on projects that speak for themselves. These approvals are a big plus for Ebonyi State, the South-East and indeed every user of these roads. The President is talking less but doing so much for our people," he said.
The minister also commended contractors handling the projects, particularly those executing the Onueke Flyover and the Legacy Road Project, for sustaining work despite delayed government payments.
According to him, more than 60 per cent of the Onueke Flyover has been completed because contractors remain confident in the Tinubu administration.
"They have not even been fully paid, yet they have continued to work because they believe in President Tinubu's administration. I want to assure them that they will be paid," Umahi stated.
He added that the 125-kilometre Legacy Road Project from Ndibe Beach through Ebonyi to the Benue boundary was progressing steadily, while an additional two-kilometre dualisation had been approved to ease traffic.
Umahi also disclosed that another federal highway contract had been awarded from the Benue-Ebonyi boundary through Benue and Kogi states to Nasarawa, saying the project would strengthen connectivity between the South-East and the North-Central.
The minister argued that no previous administration had invested in the South-East as extensively as the Tinubu government.
"This President has done what no other President has done for the South-East in terms of road infrastructure. The quality of the projects, the fairness in their distribution and the level of commitment are unprecedented," he said.
He further maintained that ongoing federal projects had substantially addressed longstanding concerns over marginalisation in the region.
"There is no part of the South-East today where federal road projects are not ongoing. From Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Aba-Port Harcourt, Owerri-Onitsha, Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja, the Legacy Project, Ndibe Beach Bridge, Oferekpe Bridge and several flyovers, the evidence is there for everyone to see," he added.
Speaking on the 2027 presidential election, Umahi urged the South-East to support Tinubu's re-election to guarantee the completion of the ongoing projects.
"The mandate for 2031 belongs to the South-East, but for now, 2027 belongs to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We want these projects completed because they are critical to the development and integration of our region," he said.
Responding to comments by Peter Obi, the minister said there was no plot against the former Anambra State governor, dismissing suggestions to the contrary as unfounded.
"Nobody is after Peter Obi. We want him on the ballot because the people will decide. The South-East will massively vote for President Tinubu because they can already see the dividends of his administration," Umahi said.
He added: "If he attacks Tinubu, I will respond because I am on the ballot for the South-East to ensure these projects are completed. We are looking for leadership with proven capacity and visible achievements, not empty promises."
Umahi described allegations of a conspiracy against Obi ahead of the 2027 election as "AI politics" and "cheap sentiments," insisting that Tinubu's performance, particularly in infrastructure delivery, remained the administration's strongest response to opposition criticism.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government was strengthening highway security through the deployment of surveillance cameras, observation centres and enhanced highway patrols to improve safety, reduce criminal activities and boost economic activities across the country's major road corridors.
