Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Wednesday flagged off the construction of the 118.8km Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Super Highway.
The (118.8km) Calabar—Ebonyi—Benue—Nasarawa—Abuja Super Highway is the first section of the coastal highway, a project initiated by President Tinubu-led administration.
The flag-off took place at Amauro Ngbom in Afikpo North Local government area of Ebonyi State with mammoth crowd where at the event to show solidarity.
The 123-kilometre section in Ebonyi, which is to be done on continuous reinforced concrete pavement,t, will cut across many communities from Ndibe Beach in Afikpo and terminate at Mbeke Ishieke in Ebonyi local government area.
The President, who was represented by Francis Nwifuru, the governor of Ebonyi state, said the project would be completed at the designated time with high quality even as he thanked the people of the southeast for their support so far and urged them to continue.
Governor Nwifuru, in his address, described the project as critical to the aspirations of the people.
“May I also take this opportunity to thank very profoundly, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda is beginning to take root in every corner of our country.
“This project reflects the president’s resolve to deploy infrastructure as a tool for national development and growth. We shall remain resolute in our support to the administration of Mr President as a way of reciprocating this gesture”, he said.
Governor Nwifuru noted that the road will boost the economy of the state through Inter-state businesses.
“For us as a State, this project is especially significant. We are a landlocked state with vast potential in agriculture, solid minerals, and trade.
“For years, our progress has been slowed down by poor connectivity with other States But today, we break that barrier. With this flagship road construction, we are writing a new chapter — One of progress, prosperity, and integration.
“And as Governor of Ebonyi State, I say this without reservation: this project is a game-changer. For our farmers, it means faster access to regional and national markets.
“For our traders, it means reduced cost of transportation. For our students, it means more secure and accessible roads to institutions across state borders. For our youth, it means employment. For our local economy, it means growth”,
“This initiative is not merely a civil engineering task. It is a bold declaration that the era of isolation, marginalization, and infrastructural neglect is giving way to an era of transformation, inclusion, and nationwide accessibility”, Nwifuru said.
David Umahi, the Minister of Works, commended the federal government for spreading projects across the geopolitical zones of the country.
His words, “He does not discriminate but he is a unifier, a true Nigerian and patriotic Leader who has the entire nation at heart.
“This is a legacy project of the President and the legacy projects are spread across the entire regions of the country.
Umahi promised that the project would be completed within the stipulated time and requested the support of the communities and all the people of the state.
He noted that President Tinubu has changed the story of the southeast for good and united the entire country.
“Ebonyi has been so marginalised that even as governor, I couldn’t lay hands on any reasonable project from the federal government,t, but President Tinu, but, within a short period of t, time, has changed the narrative for the better.
“We have every cause to be grateful to Mr President. This is one President who has the Southeast at heart.
“He is the first President to appoint a southeasterner as Minister of Works. We didn’t have projects like this before, but today, Mr President is working for all regions of the country.
“Mr President has reunited the entire country and southeast has no cause not to stand for Mr President. Ndigbo are wiser and won’t join hands with those who don’t like the country.
“We must come together as a region to endorse Mr President for a second term”.Umahi said.
Chioma Needed, a Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Community Engagement, in her remarks, noted that the president is building roads across the country and uniting the people.
She thanked the governor for providing the environment for such projects in the state and maintained that Southeast is standing for Tinubu”.
On his part, Olufumsho Adebiyi the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, said the road project will provide an efficient network that will boost agriculture and enhance trade and commerce in the country.
The Permanent Secretary called on the people to support the project from the beginning to the end. A survey is the greatest beneficiary of the project.
From the contractors, Engr Bede Obiora assured that the project would be executed according to specifications.