Tinubu’s Govt Inherited No Projects in South East, Says Umahi
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has revealed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not inherit any federal road projects in the South East region of Nigeria upon assuming office.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Umahi stated that although the Tinubu government inherited over 2,600 road projects nationwide, none were located in the South East.
He stressed that the oversight is being addressed as part of the administration’s renewed commitment to inclusive development.
“We inherited a total of 2,604 projects worth N14 trillion, covering about 18,000 kilometers of roads across the country. But surprisingly, none of those projects are sited in the South East,” Umahi said.
He noted that this absence of legacy projects in the region underscores a gap that the current administration is determined to fill. According to the Minister, President Tinubu is focused on ensuring that every part of the country benefits from critical infrastructure development.
The Federal Government, Umahi disclosed, has already paid out N4 trillion to contractors, with a funding gap of approximately N6 trillion still to be addressed.
He added that strategic efforts are underway to prioritize projects that offer high economic value and regional balance.
“We are not just looking to complete existing projects — we are also planning new ones, especially in areas like the South East that have been historically overlooked,” he added.
The Minister emphasized that while the Tinubu administration respects and is working to complete projects inherited from previous governments, it is also keen on building a legacy of equitable infrastructure delivery across all six geopolitical zones.
This development comes amid growing calls from leaders and residents of the South East for more federal presence and investment in the region’s infrastructure.
Umahi’s remarks appear to be part of a broader strategy to assure stakeholders of the government’s intention to redress past imbalances.
