Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approvals for major federal highway designs and procurements, describing them as a deliberate and highly intentional effort to rebuild the South-East.
Soludo, who expressed immense joy on behalf of the people of Anambra and the wider Igbo community, stated that the landmark infrastructural interventions are key steps toward healing the long-standing wounds of the Civil War. He added that the President is rewriting the narrative of a region long plagued by infrastructural neglect.
The Two Strategic Game-Changers
The governor’s commendation followed official confirmation on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, indicating that the President had graciously approved the design and procurement of two critical road projects:
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The 108km Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road: Proposed for dualization, this critical artery directly connects Anambra State to Kogi State, forging a massive economic link with the North-Central region.
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The 150km Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube Road: Connecting Anambra and Imo States to the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway while passing through Abia State.
According to Soludo, these highways represent massive geographical game-changers that will seamlessly integrate trade, transit, and security across the South-East, South-South, and North-Central geopolitical zones.
A Product of Constructive Engagement
Disclosing how the swift approvals were secured, Soludo revealed that he had met privately with President Tinubu on July 1 to present the developmental needs of the South-East.
Following the high-level meeting, the Minister of Works contacted the governor on July 2 to request specific details of the priority corridors, which Soludo promptly submitted on July 3. The entire process culminated in the presidential approval less than two weeks later.
“For me personally, this is why politics makes sense: working collaboratively and building alliances to achieve concrete results that improve the lives of the people,” Soludo said, pointing out that the South-East has much to gain from collaborative national politics rather than isolation.
Redefining South-East Politics
The Anambra governor, who is also the national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), maintained that the ongoing infrastructural rebirth—including the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge corridor—is proof that the federal government is prioritizing the region.
Drawing an analogy to the President’s executive track record, Soludo remarked: “The man who tamed the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos is certainly redefining politics, and the South-East won’t be the same again.”
With the design phase now officially greenlit, the federal government and state authorities are expected to fast-track procurement procedures to ensure that construction on the vital economic corridors commences ahead of the dry season.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
