FG to rebuild Enugu–Onitsha highway at ₦350bn as sections near completion

The federal government has put the total cost of reconstructing the Enugu–Onitsha federal highway at ₦350 billion, signalling a major financial commitment to one of the South East’s most critical road corridors.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed the figure on Thursday during the inauguration of completed portions of the project, describing the intervention as part of a broader push by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to upgrade key transport infrastructure across the country.

According to him, the project had undergone a significant review from its initial contract sum of ₦202 billion, with adjustments made to accommodate durability upgrades and expanded scope. The government, he explained, retained part of the original contract while redesigning key sections of the highway.

He noted that a 72-kilometre stretch of the road was separated for reconstruction using reinforced concrete pavement, a move that alone accounts for about ₦150 billion of the total cost.

A shift to longer-lasting roads

Umahi said the decision to adopt reinforced concrete instead of traditional asphalt was driven by long-term considerations, particularly durability and maintenance costs.

He explained that concrete roads, though more expensive upfront, could last between 50 and 100 years with minimal maintenance, unlike asphalt, which tends to deteriorate more quickly under heavy traffic and weather conditions.

As a result, contractors handling asphalt sections of the project have now been directed to switch to the same concrete standard for the remaining 23 kilometres, effectively aligning the entire project with a more durable construction model.

The minister added that, when completed, about half of the entire highway would be built using reinforced concrete, a shift he said would reduce future rehabilitation costs and improve road quality for commuters.

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Progress so far and Easter relief

Providing an update on the project’s status, Umahi said the first 15 kilometres of the reinforced concrete section had reached about 97 per cent completion and had been opened to traffic to ease movement ahead of the Easter celebrations.

He added that construction was ongoing on an additional 18-kilometre stretch leading towards Anambra State, while work was also progressing on a separate 39-kilometre segment extending from the River Niger Bridge axis.

Supervisors overseeing different sections of the highway commended the federal government for sustained support and expressed confidence that the project would be completed within the 2026 timeline.

The Enugu–Onitsha highway is a major economic route linking southeastern commercial hubs, and its reconstruction is expected to significantly improve mobility, reduce travel time, and ease the movement of goods across the region.