The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that the South-East geopolitical zone will deliver 90 per cent of its votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Umahi made the remark on Saturday while inspecting ongoing construction at the Alaoji axis of the Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway. He said it was not yet the turn of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s president and urged the region to adopt a more strategic political approach in its quest for power.
Addressing concerns about marginalisation, Umahi asserted that the Tinubu administration has addressed the region’s longstanding complaints.
“All the marginalisation we complain about has been addressed by the president. Unless we are not being truthful to ourselves, there is no more marginalisation in the South-East,” he said.
He noted that the appointment of a Minister of Works from the South-East was unprecedented and evidence of the president’s goodwill toward the region. According to him, several major federal road projects are currently ongoing across the zone, including sections of the Enugu–Port Harcourt corridor.
“When I was Deputy Governor and later Governor for eight years, not a single federal road project came to the state. But today, we can boast of numerous projects worth trillions of naira in the South-East, just like in other regions,” he said.
Umahi described the projects in the region as some of the president’s biggest legacy initiatives, citing key appointments and infrastructure investments as signs of inclusion. He urged the people of the South-East to support the president’s re-election bid.
“We should tell our brother Peter Obi that it is not yet our turn,” he added.
The minister also assured the contractor handling the project, Arab Contractors, of prompt release of funds to facilitate completion ahead of the president’s planned tour of the South-East and South-South in May.
He disclosed that the Federal Government inherited 2,068 ongoing projects valued at ₦19 trillion when the current administration assumed office. After prioritisation and restructuring, the value of ongoing projects excluding those related to NNPC Limited, legacy, and private sector initiatives stands at ₦16.9 trillion.
Umahi explained that funding challenges arose following the removal of fuel subsidy and the depreciation of the naira, prompting the ministry to work closely with contractors. He said Arab Contractors had been migrated to the Sukuk funding arrangement to ensure steady financing.
According to him, of the ₦8.3 billion allocated through Sukuk for the project, the contractor has ₦2 billion to claim. He added that 30 per cent of the 2025 budget allocation would be paid as directed by the president, while the remaining 70 per cent would be moved to the 2026 budget starting in April. He assured that ₦4.7 billion would be made available immediately to accelerate completion.
Umahi said the inspected section the second carriageway toward Port Harcourt—has completed major structural works and is now at the finishing stage. He explained that only the binder and wearing courses remain, adding that he redesigned the service lane to enhance durability.
The road, he said, is designed to last 50 years and is open to public scrutiny. He noted that all projects have been forwarded to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission for evaluation to ensure transparency and accountability.
Umahi also inspected the Port Harcourt axis of the expressway being handled by an indigenous contractor. Among officials present at the inspection were the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the South-East, Chioma Nwaeze, and the project manager, Mah Moud.
