ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA — The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has commended indigenous contractors handling federal highway projects for their patriotism and commitment to national development, describing their performance as proof of Nigeria’s growing local engineering capacity .
Umahi made the remarks during an inspection of ongoing construction along the Calabar corridor of the President’s legacy road projects and the Ndibe Bridge, a critical infrastructure linking Ebonyi State and Cross River State .
Speaking at the project site in Afikpo Local Government Area, the minister expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work being delivered by local firms, noting that several of them commenced work even before receiving mobilisation funds .
“Many of these local contractors have shown remarkable patriotism. Some of them have not been mobilised with funds yet, but they are already working. At least eight indigenous contractors under the Federal Ministry of Works are currently executing projects without mobilisation,” Umahi said .
He contrasted their approach with that of some expatriate companies, which he said often delay work while assessing political and economic conditions before committing resources .
“These indigenous firms see themselves as partners in nation-building. Companies like Hitech Construction Company and others have shown that Nigerian contractors can deliver projects with the same level of professionalism and quality as foreign firms,” he added .
Ndibe Bridge Project
The Ndibe Bridge project, estimated at about N55 billion, is designed to link the Afikpo community in Ebonyi State to the Calabar coastal highway corridor . Umahi disclosed that although only about N3 billion has so far been released to the contractor, significant progress has already been made at the site .
“We are working against the tide. By the time the tide comes, we would have finished what we are doing,” Umahi said, explaining that the goal is to complete the entire superstructure before the rainy season sets in by May .
The minister described the construction method as innovative, revealing that beam launching will soon commence using an advanced system where cranes move along the pier caps to position beams rather than operating from the ground .
“This is about 1.5km of bridge, but presently, it is a single carriage bridge because I believe in counting one before you count two. Let’s do even one carriageway and when we come back, we will begin to count two,” Umahi explained .
Superhighway Corridor
Umahi explained that the Ndibe Bridge forms part of a broader 465-kilometre highway project designed to link southern Nigeria to the Federal Capital Territory, creating a major economic and transport corridor .
The project begins from Calabar, stretches through Ndibe Beach, Afikpo, Amasiri, and Onueke, connects through South-South and South-East corridors, and eventually links to Ukwachi and the old Enugu–Abakaliki road before terminating at the boundary between Ebonyi and Benue states .
Section One of the project covers about 125.5 kilometres with a contract value of approximately N454 billion. The Federal Government has already paid 30 per cent of the contract sum under the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Finance (EPC+F) funding model, while contractors source the remaining 70 per cent through financing .
The road is being constructed using concrete pavement technology, which the minister said could last up to 100 years with minimal maintenance .
Appreciation for Tinubu
Umahi urged the people of Afikpo to appreciate President Bola Tinubu by supporting his re-election in 2027, noting that the community has benefited more than any other from federal government projects in Ebonyi State .
“Afikpo people should after praising God everyday, the next is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They didn’t vote for us during the last election but I hope they will be wise to vote for us in this coming election because they are the most beneficiaries of all the federal government projects in Ebonyi State,” Umahi said .
The minister also announced plans for the President Tinubu Engineering Mentorship Programme, which will deploy young engineers from the 36 states and FCT to project sites for practical training starting from April 2026 .
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