The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has directed contractors handling the ongoing Trans-Sahara Highway project to minimise the demolition of houses and other properties along the road alignment.
Meanwhile, communities in the Benue axis of the project pledged their support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of the Federal Government’s Trans-Sahara Highway project at the weekend, assuring residents and other stakeholders that the government was committed to delivering the strategic road infrastructure while minimising its impact on host communities.
The minister explained that Section One of the Trans-Sahara Highway covered approximately 123 kilometres from the Ebonyi axis to the Ebonyi-Benue boundary, while Section Two extended about 173.4 kilometres through parts of Benue, Enugu and Kogi states to the Benue River and Nasarawa boundary.
According to him, the combined length of the two sections was approximately 300 kilometres and, at a design speed of 100 kilometres per hour, the completed highway would substantially reduce travel time and enhance connectivity across the affected regions.
He said the project would have far-reaching economic implications for the South-East, North-Central and South-South regions, particularly by strengthening agricultural supply chains, facilitating trade and expanding commercial activities.
Umahi further noted that improved road infrastructure along the corridor would contribute significantly to security by enhancing the movement of security personnel and improving connectivity between previously isolated communities.
The minister disclosed that Section One, currently designed as a single carriageway, would subsequently be expanded with the construction of a second carriageway to integrate with other legacy infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration.
He also disclosed that an approximately 8.9-kilometre bypass around Afikpo and onward to the Timbershed area would be dualised as part of the broader intervention.
Expressing satisfaction with the commitment of the contractor handling Section Two, Umahi said the Federal Government remained committed to completing the project despite financial constraints arising from the volume of road infrastructure projects being executed across the country.
He explained that the administration was prioritising projects in line with available resources, assuring that the Trans-Sahara Highway would be completed by the end of President Tinubu’s second term in office.
The minister also defended the federal government’s handling of projects subject to existing concession agreements, saying the administration had remained mindful of contractual and legal obligations while responding to the needs of road users and host communities.
He urged members of the public and media practitioners to undertake proper investigations before commenting on complex engineering, contractual or legal issues concerning major infrastructure projects.
Umahi said the federal government had, where necessary, intervened in areas outside the original scope of some contracts, particularly where such interventions were required to protect citizens’ welfare and improve connectivity.
He appealed to residents to cooperate with officials conducting enumeration and compensation exercises, assuring affected property owners that the government would fulfil its compensation obligations where applicable.
The minister commended the people of Benue and other host states for their support, urging the communities to continue providing a peaceful and secure environment for contractors and workers.
He said the successful completion of the Trans-Sahara Highway would not only provide a strategic transportation corridor but also unlock the agricultural potential of the region, stimulate commerce, strengthen interstate connectivity and contribute to improved security.
Speaking during the inspection, the traditional ruler of Ndiagu Ishieke Autonomous Community in Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, HRH Eze Idenyi Agbo, commended the Federal Government for the ongoing construction, describing the project as a demonstration of responsive governance and a major intervention capable of transforming the economic fortunes of communities along the corridor.
Eze Agbo particularly commended Umahi for applying his engineering expertise, administrative experience and sensitivity to the cultural heritage of host communities in the execution of the project.
He said the minister’s decision to ensure that his palace was not demolished in the course of the road construction demonstrated wisdom, maturity and respect for the traditional institution.
According to the monarch, Umahi’s approach had shown that critical infrastructure could be delivered without unnecessarily undermining the historical and cultural assets of host communities.
Eze Agbo expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Umahi for the road intervention, assuring the federal government of the community’s cooperation and support for the successful completion of the project.
He consequently declared the community’s support for the re-election of President Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
“There is no other person we would rather support at this moment than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Hyacinth Alia and the APC candidates because we have seen the impact of their administration in our communities,” the monarch said.
He, however, urged residents and youths to protect the road infrastructure and cooperate with contractors, engineers and government officials to ensure that the project was delivered on schedule and according to specifications.
The Project Manager of Section Two of the Trans-Sahara Highway, Rabih Munayer, said the contractor was implementing directives issued by the Minister of Works to minimise property damage and avoid unnecessary demolition along the road alignment.
Munayer said Section Two covered approximately 173.4 kilometres, subject to adjustments arising from the ongoing design review.
“This is Section Two of this major superhighway,” he said, explaining that the section traversed parts of Benue, Enugu and Kogi states before terminating at the Benue River and Nasarawa boundary.
He said the contractor would deploy additional pipes and temporary measures, particularly during the rainy season, to maintain trafficability and facilitate construction activities while minimising disruption to communities.
According to him, the measures would enable construction equipment to move through the corridor while reducing the need to demolish structures and cause avoidable damage to property.
Also speaking, the consultant and designer for Section Two, Engineer Akelakpa Edra, said the project design was being reviewed to incorporate the minister’s directives, including the replacement of some culverts with bridges and adjustments to the alignment where necessary to avoid affected properties.
Edra said the revised design would take into account all the instructions issued by the minister in order to minimise the impact of the project on communities along the corridor.
Meanwhile, a stakeholder from Odoke Ishieke, Chief Patrick Agbo, described the road project as a major Federal Government intervention with the potential to stimulate economic activities, improve connectivity and open up the area to greater commercial opportunities.
Agbo appealed to Umahi to convey the community’s appreciation to President Tinubu and all relevant authorities responsible for the project.
He said improved road connectivity would facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, people and goods while creating new opportunities for commerce and other socio-economic activities.
The community stakeholder also declared his support for APC candidates “from top to bottom” in the 2027 elections, stressing that the people would continue to identify with administrations whose policies and projects had a tangible impact on their lives.
He assured the federal government, contractors and workers of the community’s cooperation and support for the security of the project, while calling on residents and youths to protect construction personnel and equipment deployed to the area.
