The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of federal highway projects being handled by indigenous contractors, saying their commitment reflects Nigeria’s growing capacity in large scale engineering and infrastructure delivery.
Speaking during an inspection of ongoing construction along the Calabar corridor of the President’s legacy road programme, Umahi noted that several local construction firms had continued work on site even before receiving mobilisation funds from the Federal Government. According to him, at least eight indigenous contractors engaged by the Federal Ministry of Works are already executing projects despite pending payments, a development he described as a strong demonstration of patriotism and belief in national development.
The minister explained that the road project begins from Calabar and forms part of a broader 465 kilometre highway corridor designed to connect southern Nigeria with the Federal Capital Territory. The route runs through Ndibe Beach, Afikpo, Amasiri and Onueke before linking other South East and South South transport corridors, eventually terminating near the boundary between Ebonyi State and Benue State. Section one of the project, which covers about 125.5 kilometres, has an estimated contract value of about ₦454 billion.
Umahi further disclosed that the project is being funded through the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Finance model under which the Federal Government provides 30 percent of the funding while contractors source the remaining 70 percent through financing arrangements. He said the road is being built using concrete pavement technology expected to last up to a century with minimal maintenance, adding that the corridor also includes major bridge infrastructure, including a 700 metre bridge and another structure measuring about 1.5 kilometres.
The minister added that the highway forms part of four major infrastructure corridors being implemented by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to him, the corridor will eventually connect with the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and complement other strategic projects such as the Second Niger Bridge bypass and sections of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway currently under reconstruction, creating a more integrated national transport network.