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By Daniel Adaji
The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has accused some individuals of deliberately misrepresenting facts about the Federal Government’s road and bridge projects in the South East, describing their actions as mischievous and deceptive.
Reacting to a social media publication by one Mr. Linus Anagboso (D-Big Pen) titled “The Politics of Asphalt: Why is the South East missing from the map?”, Umahi said the claims were false and designed to “deceive unsuspecting members of the public” despite the “great and selfless infrastructure development Mr. President is doing all over the nation.”
In a statement shared with Pointblanknews.com early Monday, Umahi said, “I demand that he corrects the information immediately even if he fails to apologize.”
Umahi stressed that President Bola Tinubu is treating the South East fairly in road infrastructure development, just like every other region.
He noted that the President’s four Legacy Projects cover all six geopolitical zones, with the South East “well captured within the third Legacy Project of Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-
He explained that N108bn has already been paid for the project and clarified that what took place at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on July 31, 2025, was a review of that corridor “from 118km x 1 to 231.64km x 1 for N445.8bn.”
According to the Minister, the writer “deliberately chose to call it Oyo-Benue Border road to deceive and incite unsuspecting members of the public” after his press briefing on the Trans-Sahara Section 1 (Ebonyi State to Benue border – 123.64km at N445.8bn).
Listing ongoing works in the region, Umahi cited the 2nd Niger Bridge access road 2A in Delta State valued at N146bn and 2B in Anambra State at N176bn; the Enugu-Onitsha road – 208km under MTN Tax Credit valued at N202bn; the Enugu–Port Harcourt road in four sections; the Enugu-Abakaliki road; the Afikpo (Ebonyi)-Abia-Imo road; the Onitsha-Owerri-Aba road; the Aba-Ikot Ekpene road; and the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road.
He appealed to the South East people to rally behind the President, saying: “Mr. President must have the votes of South East up to 90% to cement this relationship. Enough of darkening counsel without knowledge in the South East. We must rise to educate our people.”
Umahi also praised South East governors for their “support and the great works they are doing for our people,” urging continued collaboration with the President to secure second terms in their respective offices.