Works minister directs contractors to work around existing structures pending route review, while ordering faster construction on the ₦683bn Phase Two project.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has directed contractors handling the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway not to demolish or touch any building along the current project alignment until the Federal Government completes a review of the route.
Umahi issued the directive during an inspection of Phase Two of the superhighway at Ado in Benue State, where he also ordered contractors to accelerate work on the 173-kilometre section valued at ₦683 billion.
The minister said existing buildings should be protected even where they fall within the current alignment, adding that the route could be adjusted where necessary to avoid structures.
“My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it,” Umahi said.
He instructed contractors to continue construction around affected buildings while the ministry reviews the alignment.
Umahi said the directive was intended to ensure that the human impact of the infrastructure project was properly considered while construction continued.
Minister Orders Faster Construction
During the inspection, Umahi also focused on increasing the pace of work on Section Two.
He said the contractor had opened the first element of the initial eight-kilometre stretch, while engineers were working to resolve an engineering challenge around the Ado Bridge.
Rather than allow the bridge challenge to slow construction across the entire section, the minister directed the contractor to open another section from the Ado River while engineers determine an appropriate solution for the bridge crossing.
“I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,” he said.
Umahi further directed the contractor to open at least three sections of the first element of Section Two simultaneously.
The move, according to the minister, is intended to create multiple work fronts and increase the pace of construction.
He also called for adequate technical responses to difficult portions of the highway, including sharp curves and other sections where conditions on the ground may require adjustments to the original design.
Section One Valued At ₦454bn
Umahi said Section One of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway is valued at ₦454 billion.
He also highlighted additional works along the route, including the proposed dualisation of the road at Onueke and the dualisation around Chainage 0 near Ndibe Beach.
The minister explained that the project is being executed under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Plus Finance arrangement.
According to him, the financing structure does not provide for variations, making careful management of quantities and available resources important to the project’s execution.
He also directed that sharp curves along the highway should be strengthened where necessary, even where such adjustments were not contained in the original design.
Umahi said experienced professionals must respond to engineering realities encountered during construction rather than remain limited by the initial design.
Umahi Defends Southeast Infrastructure Projects
The inspection also saw Umahi respond to claims on social media that he had concentrated Federal Government infrastructure projects in the Southeast.
He rejected the allegation and said the projects were part of the broader infrastructure programme of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to the Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Umahi added that he could not independently determine where Federal Government projects were located because the President remained his principal.
“I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?” he asked.
He said the Southeast might not rank first, second or third in infrastructure development under the administration but would, in his words, “definitely” not be last.
Umahi Addresses Ebonyi Political Claims
Umahi also dismissed suggestions of a political “rainbow coalition” involving political interests in Ebonyi State.
He maintained that the state remained aligned with the All Progressives Congress and its candidates.
The minister was also asked about reports of a possible political alliance involving former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Umahi said Wike had not informed him of any candidates in Ebonyi State.
“If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship,” he said.
The political comments came during the same inspection in Benue State, alongside Umahi’s directives on the ongoing superhighway project.
For the immediate construction programme, however, the minister’s key instructions were to protect existing buildings pending the route review, open additional work fronts and resolve engineering challenges without allowing them to stall progress.
