President Bola Tinubu has officially commenced construction of the 465-kilometer Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway, marking a significant infrastructure milestone for Nigeria’s southeast region. The ceremonial flag-off at Amuro Primary School in Ebonyi’s Afikpo LGA saw the President represented by Governor Francis Nwifuru, who conveyed Tinubu’s appreciation for southeast support while pledging timely project completion to specification.
Governor Nwifuru hailed the initiative as transformative for Ebonyi’s landlocked economy, emphasizing its potential to unlock agricultural and mineral trade opportunities. “This road shatters decades of isolation,” he declared, outlining benefits ranging from reduced transport costs for farmers to enhanced educational access for students. The governor positioned the project as emblematic of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, promising reciprocal political support from the state.
Works Minister David Umahi praised the President’s pan-Nigerian vision, revealing the superhighway as one of several legacy projects spanning all geopolitical zones. The former Ebonyi governor provided personal testimony about the region’s historical marginalization in federal projects, contrasting it with Tinubu’s swift action. “For the first time, we have a President genuinely invested in southeast development,” Umahi stated, recalling his own struggles to secure federal projects during his governorship.
The superhighway’s route strategically connects five states across southern and central Nigeria, potentially reshaping regional trade dynamics. Contractors have mobilized to meet the ambitious timeline, while communities along the corridor anticipate economic revitalization from what officials describe as Nigeria’s most extensive ongoing road project.
