The Federal Government has directed contractors working on the Mbiama section of the East-West Road to complete the project by November 2025. Minister of Works, David Umahi, made the announcement after inspecting progress on the project during a two-day tour.
Umahi expressed satisfaction with the completion of Section 2.1, a 47-kilometer stretch of the road, which will be commissioned by the end of May. The contractor has been fully paid for the work. He also noted that heavy flooding during the 2023 rainy season had washed away over 3 kilometers of the road, necessitating additional relief culverts and raising the road level by 1 meter.
The minister emphasized that the remaining 22 kilometers of Section 2.2 must be completed by November. He praised the contractor, Setraco, for its exceptional work, adding that any claims suggesting the road would not be finished this year were false. “I’m satisfied with the quality of work,” he said. “Setraco has proven they are a first-class indigenous contractor.”
Umahi also praised RCC, the contractor handling the Eleme axis of the East-West Road, for the progress made in the past two months, surpassing earlier work. He attributed past delays to the site manager’s absence but was confident in the renewed pace of work now that the manager had returned. The minister also directed RCC to redesign the drainage system to ensure it could be installed easily, even during rainfall.
Umahi expressed confidence that the carriageway would be finished by the end of April, though he acknowledged the drainage work may not be completed by then. “They must expedite drainage work to finish the carriageway on time,” he advised.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting local contractors, citing the mobilization fees for the Second Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kano roads as examples of the President’s commitment to infrastructure development.
Umahi noted that three bridges in Port Harcourt and Kaiama had collapsed during the 2023 floods but were being reconstructed under the President’s directive. The contractor has already molded the beams and is set to begin piling.
Enwereama Tarilade, Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, highlighted the 11 bridges and additional culverts being constructed to prevent flood damage on the project. The estimated completion date for the project is April 2026.
Setraco representatives expressed gratitude to both President Tinubu and Umahi for creating an enabling environment for the project’s progress. Michel Issa, representing Setraco, noted that Section 2.2 of the project, spanning 54.5 kilometers from Ahoada to Kaiama, was 70% complete. Work on the right-hand side of the road is progressing, with 14 box culverts already completed.
Once finished, the East-West Road will improve regional connectivity, support economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for local residents.
