Presidential Communications Team Inspects Key Federal, State Govts Projects In South-East
In continuation of the Renewed Hope Media Tour of federal and state governments’ projects across the South-east geo-political zone, the Presidential Communications Team led by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Saturday undertook an extensive tour of strategic federal government projects in Ebonyi State to showcase the impact of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the complementary development initiatives of state government.
Other members of the team include Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications as well as Senior Special Assistants to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman; Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi; Digital and New Media, Otega Ogra; Public Engagement, Fredrick Nwabufo; Strategic Communication, Linda Akhigbe; and Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Segun Dada and among others.
The team made the first stopover at Government House, Abakaliki. There, Onanuga told the State Governor, Francis Ogbanna Nwifuru, that the Renewed Hope Media Tour is designed to provide firsthand assessment and public awareness on projects being implemented under the Tinubu administration, while also highlighting the synergy between the federal government and sub-national governments in delivering development dividends to Nigerians.
Nwifuru welcomed the delegation and assured them of their security throughout the inspection period.
The Governor commended President Tinubu for his commitment to infrastructure development in the South-east especially Ebonyi State as well as his national renewal programme.
The team alongside Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, Acting Federal Controller of Works in the state, Engr. Maxwell Okoh, and Mohammed Mustafa, Project Manager of Infiouest International Limited, the Contractor handling the Calabar-Abuja Tran-Sahara Super Highway, inspected critical bridges and road projects including the ongoing construction of 90 metres link bridge in section 1, of concrete pavement on Onueke section of the Calabar-Abuja Tran-Sahara Super Highway. They also inspected the 1.3 Kilometres Ndi-Egbe Bridge in Afikpo LGA of Ebonyi linking Ugep in Cross River State which is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The Trans-Sahara superhighway is a project of the Tinubu administration which will connect Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.
Umahi said the original scope of section 1 of the project was meant to cover 118 Kilometres single carriageway, but later reviewed to cover both lanes of the 123.6 kilometres at a cost of N445 billion, adding that the dualized component’s procurement process is ongoing.
The Minister said section 2 of the superhighway runs from the Ebonyi border through Benue, Kogi, and ends at Loko-Oweto bridge in Nasarawa State, covering the 123.6 km stretch.
“The project is over 28% completed with continuous work despite the rainy season. We are utilising concrete technology for durability” Umahi said.
The team also inspected a completed section of concrete pavement link road between Ebonyi and Cross River State, particularly from Okposi-Ukawu in Oha-Zara Local Government of Ebonyi and Ugwulangu-Abaomege in UGEP Ugep Local Government of Cross River State.
The Minister, while explaining the socio-economic and agriculture benefits that President Tinubu’s legacy projects bring to Nigerians, said the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway corridor has over 73 Dams for irrigation farming to boost Agriculture, while the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and other development initiatives improve connectivity, attract investors and enhance quality of life for Nigerians.
He noted that the infrastructure projects inspected in Ebonyi State reflect the Tinubu administration’s determination to stimulate economic activities, create jobs, and improve the living standards of citizens through strategic investments in critical sectors.
