No Federal Project Came to South-East Before Tinubu — Umahi

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the South-East did not receive significant federal infrastructure projects before the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Umahi made the claim while highlighting what he described as the unprecedented level of federal infrastructure development currently taking place across the region.

According to the minister, the South-East had suffered years of inadequate federal attention, particularly in road and bridge construction.

He said his experience as governor of Ebonyi State further informed his assessment of the situation, noting that during his eight years as governor, he did not witness the commencement of a major federal road or bridge project in the state.

“But in terms of infrastructure, I told you that as governor for eight years, there was no federal government road or bridge that came to the South-East,” Umahi said.

He contrasted the situation with the current administration, pointing to major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Trans-Sahara Super Highway and ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction of major roads linking states in the region.

Umahi also cited the ongoing Enugu-Onitsha, Owerri-Onitsha and Enugu-Abakaliki road projects as evidence of increased federal infrastructure intervention in the South-East.

The minister said the region was not asking for preferential treatment but for fairness and equitable distribution of federal projects and appointments.

He has repeatedly defended the administration against claims that the Ministry of Works is concentrating projects in the South-East, saying the projects are part of a nationwide infrastructure programme approved by President Tinubu.

In September, Umahi dismissed allegations that he had “cornered” federal road projects to the region, insisting that the ministry’s interventions were based on national development priorities.

He said the South-East may not be the first beneficiary of federal infrastructure investment, but should no longer be left behind.

The minister has also praised Tinubu for appointing him as Minister of Works, describing the decision as significant because, according to him, the South-East had never previously produced a substantive Minister of Works.

Umahi said the region was now benefiting from what he described as greater inclusion in the Federal Government’s infrastructure programme.

He also said discussions over the creation of a sixth state in the South-East were ongoing, describing the proposal as a “work in progress.”

The minister maintained that the administration’s infrastructure projects were intended not only to improve transportation but also to stimulate trade, agriculture, industrial development and employment across the country.