The Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, has assured Ebonyi State people that the 477 Cross River-South East-North Central-Apo (Abuja) superhighway would not only enhance investment, but also promote agricultural economy in the South East zone.
The Minister of Works gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, when he spoke on the project.
He spoke at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House during a stakeholders engagement on the proposed alignment for Ebonyi State’s 101km segment of the road.
Umahi, who said the road was one of the legacy projects of President Bola Tinubu, noted that it would open up rural communities and stem the enormous problems encountered by farmers in evacuating their various rich agricultural produce.
He called on all Ebonyi State stakeholders, South Easterners and people from all sections to support the project, which he said would boost the President’s policy on food sufficiently in the country.
He said: “It’s an economically agricultural viable route that will enable Ebonyi State to now bring a lot of their rice within this corridor.
“There is a lot of rice production here, potatoes and yams and there is no road to transport them.
“So, this is going to help us to bring out our agricultural produce to support Mr. President’s policy on food sufficiency.
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“So, it’s an agricultural economic corridor.
“Let me on behalf of Mr. President unveil the three legacy projects of Mr. President.
“Let me emphasise that these legacy projects are not just mere projects.”
Governor Francis Nwifuru in his remarks appreciated President Tinubu for the road and other federal projects located in Ebonyi State and South East.
Describing the road as a signature project of Tinubu, he maintained that the engagement was predicated on the belief that effective infrastructure development requires a collective effort from government, private sector, and civil society, assuring that his administration was committed to creating an enabling environment for investment and ensuring that the infrastructure needs of the citizens were met.
Nwifuru said: “This engagement is to listen to your feedback and concerns regarding the inclusion of Ebonyi State in the 477km road which traverses Cross River, South East, North Central, Apo-Abuja Superhighway – spur of Lagos-Port Harcourt, crossing Enugu State and passing through our dear Abakaliki, then to Ogoja, in northern Cross River State.
“It is indeed a huge signature project and we pray to God it comes to timely fruition, foster collaboration and partnerships by identifying opportunities for innovation and investment in the project, given its associated socioeconomic potentialities.
“Our people are predominantly agrarian, and this wonderful initiative we are going to benefit from will further assist our rural farmers in evacuating their farm produce to viable markets.
“Once again, I thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for this wonderful show of love, not only to Ebonyi State, but to the entire Ndigbo.
“We are indeed very grateful for a number of federal projects being executed in our dear state, which are in tandem with our reforms to make life easier for the people.”
All the stakeholders who spoke, including the representative of Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Eze Nwachukwu Eze, eulogised the project, describing it as a dream come true.
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