Rt. Hon. Sir Sam Onuigbo, a former member of the House of Representatives and current Member representing the South-East on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), has commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the handover of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road to the Abia State Government.
The decision mandates the state government, led by Governor Alex Otti, to complete the reconstruction of the remaining 25 kilometres of the 49.5-kilometre strategic artery.
Onuigbo made the commendation during a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, where he expressed his “profound and sincere appreciation” to the president.
He stated that the move “further confirms our assertion that the President has the interest of the South East at heart,” describing it as a show of “wisdom and kindness.” The road is a critical infrastructure link, connecting several geopolitical zones and serving as a conduit to neighbouring Cameroon.
The announcement marks the latest development in a project that Onuigbo has championed for nearly a decade. He recounted that his advocacy began with a motion he moved on the floor of the House of Representatives on 26 May 2016, concerning the “failed sections of the road, especially between Ndoro and Okweukwu Communities in Oboro Clan in Ikwuano Local Government Area.”
This was followed by a visit to the then Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in June 2016, which he said “elicited instant reply” and led to palliative works by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
Persistent lobbying eventually led to the federal government awarding the main reconstruction contract to Hartland Nigeria Limited and Rayccon & Company Nigeria Limited in 2019. However, the project stalled due to funding challenges.
In a letter dated 27 September 2021, Onuigbo proposed to the minister that financing be shifted to “special intervention agencies like the SUKUK Bond or the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme.” This effort, he noted, “bore fruits,” resulting in an Executive Order that transferred the project’s sponsorship to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under its Tax Credit Scheme.
The development was formally confirmed to Onuigbo in a November 2021 letter from then Minister Fashola, which read: “As you may be aware, the project has been approved for funding by the NNPC through the Road Tax Credit Scheme. This is expected to address the funding challenges on the project and ensure timely completion.” The letter also instructed Onuigbo to “address your constituents to remove all structures and crops within the Right of Way (RoW) to enable the contractor have unimpeded access.”
More recently, the Federal Executive Council approved an augmentation of over N14.37 billion for the road on 3 February 2025.
Onuigbo framed the president’s final handover decision as a fulfilment of his inaugural pledge to continue the Buhari administration’s infrastructure focus. He quoted President Tinubu’s speech: “We shall continue the efforts of the Buhari administration on infrastructure. Progress toward national network of roads, rail and ports shall get priority attention.”
The former lawmaker extended his gratitude to Governor Alex Otti for his cooperation and to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for his “continuous supervision and technical guidance.” He called on the people of Abia State and the wider South-East to “fully support the Renewed Hope administration,” while urging communities along the route to sustain their cooperation with the contractors.
Addressing his constituents in Ikwuano directly, Onuigbo said, “I urge us to see this development as our shared victory — proof that when there is persistence, and the government listens, partnership works.”
He concluded by reflecting that the route once dubbed a “death trap” now stands as “a testament to resilience — and to a government that truly cares.”
The completion of the project is expected to significantly improve regional connectivity and economic activity.
Discussion about this post