The Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi, has asserted that the call for a separate Biafran state is no longer justifiable, arguing that the South-East region has achieved unprecedented integration into Nigeria’s national development agenda under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, made the strong declaration while inspecting ongoing federal projects across the South-East. He maintained that the pervasive feelings of marginalisation, which previously fueled separatist agitations, have significantly eased due to massive federal investments in critical infrastructure within the region.
“There will be no need for Biafra again,” Umahi stated. “In the past administration, our people felt very much marginalised… and that was the reason some people were agitating for Biafra, but I can say today that we are well integrated into the mainstream of the nation, Nigeria.” He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, emphasizing that the South-East is now “comfortable and satisfied” with the current administration and its level of inclusion.
The Minister highlighted several federal road projects in the region that had been abandoned for over a decade before being revived by the Tinubu government. He specifically pointed to a section of road being constructed by MTN under RCC, which had stalled for more than fifteen years but is now slated for full completion by February at a cost of N202 billion. Additionally, he noted that a 72-kilometre road section handled by SKCC, valued at N150 billion, has already received 30 percent mobilization payment. Umahi stressed the government’s shift towards prioritizing concrete roads designed for exceptional longevity, projecting that they will last between 50 and 100 years.
Umahi detailed a comprehensive list of major projects spanning the region, including the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, and Section 2B of the Second Niger Bridge, valued at N176 billion. He also cited the newly completed Artisan Bridge and the ongoing construction of the largest flyover in the South-East at Depot Junction in Eke-Obinagu, both in Enugu. Other legacy projects mentioned include the N172 billion Enugu–Abakaliki road and a N424 billion, 123-kilometre corridor connecting Ndibe Beach in Ebonyi State to the Benue border.
“These are the reasons why I said we do not have any reason again to agitate for Biafra,” he declared, urging the South-East to pursue political relevance through strategic action rather than divisive rhetoric. “We cannot retake our rightful position by sentiment and venomous statements. It is by realities and being strategic.” He described his unwavering support for Tinubu and the defection of the Enugu State Governor to the All Progressives Congress as calculated strategic decisions that benefit the region. Umahi concluded by framing the moment as a major turning point, asserting, “This is our time, and this is the time that God has sent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reintegrate our people.”
