The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has said that major road infrastructure projects in the South-East are receiving significant attention by the Federal Government.
The agency made the disclosure while reacting to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey on the condition of federal roads in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states.
NAN reports that some federal roads in the three states are currently undergoing rehabilitation and reconstruction by the Federal Ministry of Works.
The federal roads include Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Road, Abakaliki–Afikpo–Cross River Road, Amasiri–Okigwe Road, Abakaliki–Enugu Highway, and the dualisation of the Akpoha Bridge all in Ebonyi.
Also undergoing rehabilitation and reconstruction are the dualisation of Oturkpo-Obollo Afor-9th mile road, the Enugu-Onitsha expressway as well as the Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway.
Reacting to the survey, Mr Chidi Nwokolo, an official of FERMA in Enugu, said that ongoing rehabilitation and construction works were visible on key federal road corridors linking Enugu with neighbouring states.
According to him, work is currently ongoing on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and the Enugu-Benue road corridor.
“Work is being done on those sections of the road.
“On the Enugu-Onitsha road, they are working on that stretch down to Onitsha. They are also working on the Enugu-Benue road,” he said.
He urged members of the public and journalists to verify the progress of work through independent visits to project sites.
“If you go to those stretches, you can take pictures. Work is ongoing on these roads,” he said.
He also dismissed claims in some quarters that the administration of President Bola Tinubu, was neglecting the South-East in terms of road infrastructure development.
The official further cited ongoing projects within Enugu metropolis, including flyover constructions at Eke Obinagu and Abakpa Junction.
According to him, the projects are aimed at improving traffic flow and enhancing transportation within the state capital.
He noted that the road project from Enugu to the 9th Mile axis had recorded significant progress, adding that some portions of the road had already been completed using concrete pavement technology.
In his contributions, Mr Akinyemi Ojo, the Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer (FRME) in Ebonyi, said federal roads in Ebonyi, including the Owutu–Amasiri Road, Oso-Edda–Nguzu–Ohafia Road and Afikpo–Unwana Road, were currently receiving attention.
“Currently, work is progressing steadily on the Enugu–Abakaliki highway under the present federal government.
“The dualisation of the road is ongoing and vehicular movement has improved considerably because many sections have been completed,” Ojo said.
Meanwhile, commuters, transport operators and relevant stakeholders in the transportation sector in Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu States, have commended the Federal Government for the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction of Federal Highways.
A cross-section of the stakeholders told NAN that improved inter-state road connectivity would facilitate trade, boost agricultural activities and reduce travel time for motorists and commuters.
However, a survey by the NAN also showed that some federal roads in the areas under consideration were in very deplorable condition.
Some of the roads include the Onueke–Oshiri–Onicha–Ishiagu–Okigwe Road and the Amasiri–Okposi–Isu–Enugu road, in Ebonyi; Awgu – Oji River federal road and Nsukka – Ovoko federal road in Enugu State.
Speaking on the condition of federal roads across the three states, Mr Emmanuel Nworie, a commercial driver in Ebonyi commended the federal government for reconstructing and rehabilitating the roads.
Nworie said that roads linking communities in Ebonyi with parts of Benue, Cross River, Enugu and Abia required urgent government attention.
According to Nworie, poor road conditions on several rural routes have increased transportation costs and exposed road users to various risks.
He noted that many of the roads are strategic because they served as major routes for farmers and traders transporting agricultural produce across state boundaries.
“I must commend the Federal Government’s efforts in reconstructing several roads, especially in the South-East region; driving from Abakaliki to Enugu is now smoother, though work is still ongoing.
“The traffic congestion at Eke-Obinagu market junction in Enugu state has significantly reduced; rehabilitation of that section of the road is highly commendable,” Nworie said.
Also speaking, Chief Sunday Agbafor, a community leader in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi, described road infrastructure as a critical driver of development.
He noted that improved connectivity would strengthen socio-economic ties among neighbouring states.
“There is a need to prioritise the construction of roads linking border communities because such projects would contribute significantly to national development and rural transformation.
“Increased federal support for rural road infrastructure would improve the living standard of residents and stimulate economic activities across the South-East and neighbouring regions,” he said.
In the same vein, a cross-section of commercial drivers in Anambra have lauded the Federal Government for completing the rehabilitation of the Anambra section of the Enugu – Onitsha expressway.
Mr Azubuike Maduka, a commercial driver, who plies Awka to Onitsha daily, expressed happiness over the completion of the rehabilitation work.
“I am happy, I want to say a big thank you to the Federal Government for a good job, although there are some sections of the road still with potholes.
“The Enugu – Onitsha Expressway is better now than what it used to be back in 2025, when we used to drive on one lane; now we are driving on the two lanes of the expressway, ” he said.
Maduka appealed to the government to expedite action on filling the portholes on some sections of the road to prevent accidents.
Similarly, Mr Jude Obinna, another commercial driver lauded the federal government for putting smiles on the faces of road users by rehabilitating the road, especially commercial drivers.
“The Enugu – Onitsha expressway became so bad that we resorted to using only one lane.
“Now, we are happy because we now drive on the two lanes, especially our members because we are always on the road,” he said.
Obinna appealed to the government to reinforce the walkways of the road with concrete cement to ensure safety of pedestrians and faulty vehicles being packed by the road side.
Mrs Maria Enweremadu, a commuter who also commended the government for the rehabilitation, said that one could now comfortably travel from Awka to Onitsha at night.
According to her, before now it was a nightmare traveling from Awka to Onitsha at night because of the bad road.
