The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has announced that President Bola Tinubu is working diligently to complete the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway by the end of the year. This update comes after Umahi’s inspection of the project’s progress on the Aba end. According to the minister, over 85 percent of the Aba-Umuahia section and approximately 60 percent of the Aba-Port Harcourt stretch have been completed.

Umahi expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done by the Arab Contractors, describing it as one of the best. He also directed the Federal Controller of Works in Abia to visit all ongoing federal government project sites in the state at least once a week to detect potential problems early and prevent road failures. The minister emphasized the president’s commitment to providing functional and durable road infrastructure, citing the adoption of concrete pavements to build roads that can last between 50 and 100 years.

The Federal Government’s plan to toll completed roads through public-private partnerships aims to ensure sustained maintenance. Umahi noted that new concrete roads would require minimal maintenance, almost 0.001 percent, for the next 50 years. He warned that substandard work would not be tolerated on any federal road, citing his decision to sack expatriates from a site due to poor work.

The Project Manager of Arab Contractors, Sherif Fadel, attributed the slow pace of execution to persistent rainfall and funding delays, although he noted that payments have improved. Local residents, such as Chukwuebuka Nwankwo and Oluchi Ukachi, praised the quality of work done so far and urged the contractors to increase their pace for quick completion. The completed road is expected to boost economic activities and ease the people’s hardship.

The Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway is a key infrastructure project, and its completion is a national priority due to its poor condition when President Tinubu assumed office. With the Federal Government working to ensure its completion by December, the project’s progress is being closely monitored. The use of concrete pavements and the plan for tolling completed roads are part of the government’s efforts to provide durable and well-maintained infrastructure.