The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, on Saturday said that the Federal Government under President Ahmed Tinubu had banned all forms of mining activities within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges across the country.
Umahi disclosed this to journalists during a press briefing in Enugu after inspecting some projects in the southeast, adding that the ban was a directive aligned with decisions of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), aimed at strengthening the structural integrity of bridges and ensuring road safety nationwide.
Umahi warned the public to abide by this directive, adding that the government will deploy patrol boats to enforce the ban around bridge corridors and will also provide two vehicles to the police for highway monitoring.
The Minister praised the ingenuity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, addressing the troubling Enugu–Onitsha route and revealing that 28 April has been set for its completion.
He said that President Tinubu is the Biafra the people of the Southeast are agitating for, considering the numerous projects completed and ongoing in the region.
According to him, it is only the audacity of President Tinubu, his determination and love for Southeast people, that every abnormal situation is being brought to a halt in the zone.
The Minister regretted that despite the huge resources expended on the road by previous governments, he announced that in the next two weeks, the first 15 kilometres of the carriageway would have been completed.
He said, ‘But it is only the audacity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his determination and love for Southeast people, that is bringing that abnormal situation to a halt.
‘And so what are we doing? It’s a project of 107 kilometres by two. And so MTN was having the entire project, 202 billion before, under MTN tax credits.
‘And so when we came on board, MTN had already done a project of about 50 billion. And so what we did, because of the floating of the Naira and then the subsidy removal, the prices have gone up. So what we did is to de-scope the project within the limit of what is available out of that 22 billion.
‘And that’s what, you know, the MTN is doing. Their subcontractor is Nigercat and the RCC. We’re satisfied with where they have done.
‘Where we have concerns, we have told them, and they are going to amend it. We’re happy with that. And we set 28 April for completion.
‘And so the balance of that work is about 72 kilometres, scattered in about four sections. And that’s what we gave out, you know, the first two sections, 15 kilometres and 18 kilometres, best cases to do with concrete.
‘And I want to announce that in the next two weeks, the first 15 kilometres, you know, the carriageway would have been completed, left with shoulders’.
Umahi added that in the next two weeks, solar lights will also be installed along the 107 kilometres of the road.
‘And we’re just directed that within the next two weeks, solar light be completed, the first five kilometres. But we’re also considering giving out best cases to do the entire solar light of 107 kilometres, of course jumping sections where the Anambra State government had put in solar light’, he said.
He commended President Tinubu for his commitment to the people of the Southeast, saying that the President is the Biafra the people of the Southeast are agitating for.
‘But that project is going to be a beauty to behold. And all credits will go to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you know, for his commitment to the people of the Southeast. And it’s quite interesting to note that all the nightmares on that road will come to an end.
‘We will continue to say that Southeast people should be very grateful to him because that which would have been expected has come to pass. And for me, that’s the Biafra we’re looking for, and that is President Bola Ahmed.
‘What he’s doing in the Southeast, in fact, you need to open your eyes to see what he’s doing. But even if you are in darkness, you will definitely feel it because the routes are probably being paved’, Umahi said.
