Sen. David Umahi, Minister of Works, stated on Wednesday that the African Trans-Saharan Highway’s completion will strengthen Nigeria’s economy overall and in the South East region specifically.
The project covers 477 km of roadways, according to Umahi, who characterized the road as an economically feasible agricultural route.
The project crosses several states: Enugu, Southeast, North Central, APO-Abuja Superhighway, spur of Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Cross River. It also passes through Ebonyi and Ogoja in Northern Cross River State.
Sen. David Umahi, the Minister of Works, further described the project as Tinubu’s legacy project at the Stakeholders’ Engagement held at the Exco chambers, New Government House, Abakaliki. He urged South East and other people of the country to support it in order to lessen the ongoing difficulties that farmers face when evacuating agricultural produce.
“It’s an economic agricultural viable routes that will enable Ebonyi State to now bring a lot of their rice within this corridor.
“There is a lot of rice production here, potatoes and yams and there is no road to transport them. So, these is going to help us to bring out our agricultural produce to support Mr. President policy on food sufficiency.So, it’s an agricultural economic corridor.
“Let me on behalf of Mr. President unveil the three legacy projects of Mr. President. Let me emphasize that these legacy projects are not just mere projects”, he stated.
Governor Francis Nwifuru in his remarks said through the stakeholders engagement, his administration aim to: communicate infrastructural development objectives and progress since it came on board 14 months ago;
He prayed for it to be finished on schedule and called it a signature project.
“Listen to your feedback and concerns regarding the inclusion of Ebonyi State in the 477km road which traverses Cross River, Southeast -North Central APO-Abuja Superhighway spur of Lagos -Port Harcourt Crossing Enugu State and passing through our dear Abakaliki, then to Ogoja, in northern Cross River State.
“It is indeed a huge signature project, we pray God it comes to timely fruition ; Foster collaboration and partnerships by- identify opportunities for innovation and investment in the project given its associated socioeconomic potentialities. Our people are predominantly agrarians and this wonderful initiative we are going to benefit from will further assist our rural farmers to evacuate their farm produce to viable markets.
This engagement this afternoon.I repeat is predicated on our believe that effective infrastructure development requires a collective effort from government, private sector, and civil society. This administration is committed to creating an enabling environment for investment and ensuring that our infrastructure meets the needs of our citizens.
“Once again, I thank Mr. President for this wonderful show of love not only to Ebonyi State but to the entire Ndigbo. We are indeed very grateful for a number of Federal projects being executed in our dear State which are in tandem with our resolve to make life easier for the people”, Nwifuru stated
