Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has inspected the Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe road project, assuring that its difficult mountainous section will be removed to improve safety.
Umahi spoke on Saturday, August 15, during an inspection of the 65-kilometre Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe federal road project in Okigwe, Imo, being executed under the Federal Government’s tax-credit scheme, with Dangote Industries Ltd. as sponsor and Hi-Tech Construction as contractor.
He said the project had recorded substantial progress, with more than 20 kilometres completed, adding that the administration of President Bola Tinubu, was committed to delivering safer and more efficient highways in the Southeast.
Umahi said the 60-metre-high mountain along the corridor had historically constituted a major safety challenge and was responsible for several fatal accidents.
“This mountain, by the command of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must collapse for the people of South-East,” he said.
The minister described the mountain section as one of the most technically demanding portions of the project, saying its removal would significantly reduce accidents and save lives.
“This place is very challenging. We have a mountain that is over 60 metres high.
“If God helps us in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to achieve this, this will be a major saving of lives for the people of South-East,” Umahi said.
He commended Hi-Tech Construction for the quality of work, particularly the concrete pavement, which he described as superior to what was obtainable on some other major Federal Government highway projects.
Umahi also urged people of the Southeast to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, saying the region should appreciate the administration through its votes for the infrastructure being delivered across the zone.
“South-East must vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
” South-East must know that our vote alone cannot make our brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, to be President. We have to be strategic,” he said.
The minister, however, described Obi as his friend and colleague, noting that both had served as governors and contested for the presidency.
Earlier, the Project Controller, Engr. Maxwell Oko, said the F112 highway comprised 9.9 kilometres of dual carriageway and 55.55 kilometres of single carriageway.
Oko said the road was being delivered under the tax-credit arrangement, with Dangote Industries Ltd. sponsoring the project and Hi-Tech Construction executing it.
He said the highway was a major arterial route linking communities and adjoining federal highways across Ebonyi, Abia and Imo states, with significant implications for trade and regional integration.
The Managing Director of Hi-Tech Construction, Mr Christopher Aucamp, said preparatory work had commenced at the mountainous section ahead of intensive excavation and earthworks.
He said three excavators would be deployed to accelerate the removal and reshaping of the mountain.
Aucamp added that the contractor was constructing a second bypass to facilitate safer movement for students and other road users during construction.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Southeast, Barr. Chioma Nweze, commended the Federal Government for prioritising strategic road projects in the region.
Nweze said the project would strengthen connectivity, open up communities and markets and stimulate commercial activities across the affected states.
She listed the Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Enugu-Abakaliki, Abakaliki Trans-Sahara and Onitsha-Owerri roads among major Federal Government projects ongoing in the Southeast.
The Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe highway is expected to improve interstate connectivity, access to markets and movement along adjoining highways when completed. ENDS//
