Amuro-Mgbom: President Bola Tinubu, at Amuro-Mgbom in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi, has inaugurated the 118.85 kilometres of the Ebonyi section of the Trans-Saharan Super Highway. The President, who was represented by Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, said that the project would usher in massive socio-economic development in the state. He stressed the commitment of the Federal Government to infrastructure developments of the South-East.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tinubu stated that the era of isolation, marginalisation, and infrastructure neglect was giving way to an era of transformation, inclusion, and nationwide accessibility. He highlighted that the critical section of the 118.85 kilometres highway was a project that promised to change the face of infrastructure across the South-East, North-Central, and South-South regions of Nigeria. Tinubu assured that the project would be a quality road that would last for many years on completion.
The President expressed confidence in the people handling the project and reiterated his commitment to its completion. ‘I’m very much confident with the calibre of people that are handling this project as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I’m also very committed to the completion of this project because with the kind of mobilisation I see here today, we may not have any hitches,’ he said.
Nwifuru also addressed the crowd, emphasizing that the inauguration marked a significant moment in the state’s history. He described the project as a crucial step toward progress, connectivity, and national integration. ‘Today is not just about the inauguration of a road construction project, it is a day that history will remember as a defining moment in our collective journey toward progress, connectivity, and national integration,’ he stated.
The governor highlighted the project’s route, which begins at Ndibe Beach in Afikpo North Local Government Area, traverses through Ukwuachi-Mbeke Ishieke, Ebonyi Local Government Area, and proceeds into Benue State. The highway is part of a broader system that links the Enugu-Abakaliki/Ogoja Highway through Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa, to Abuja. Its extension into Cross River State, through Odukpani to Calabar, underlines its national significance.
Nwifuru praised the Minister of Works, Dr. David Umahi, for his leadership and commitment. He noted that the project holds particular importance for Ebonyi, a landlocked state with potential in agriculture, minerals, and trade. ‘For us as a state, this project is especially significant; we are a landlocked state with vast potential in agriculture, solid minerals, and trade,’ he remarked.
The governor emphasized the road’s potential to enhance connectivity, reduce transportation costs, and provide secure access for students. He also noted its role in creating employment and boosting the local economy. ‘The multiplier effect of this road is immeasurable. It is an artery that will pump vitality into the socio-economic organs of not just Ebonyi, but Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa, Cross River, and the FCT,’ Nwifuru added. He assured that Ebonyi would fully support the Federal Ministry of Works and the project management team to ensure its success.
