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By Jessica Dogo

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) in Abia, Chief Sam Onuigbo, says President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated commitment to the infrastructure development of the South-Eastern part of the country.

Onuigbo, a former member of the House of Representatives, said this in Abuja on Thursday while addressing newsmen.

He represents South East in the North East Development Commission Governing Board.

Onuigbo said Tinubu, through his Renewed Hope Agenda, had reflected the commitment through the ongoing rehabilitation of Umuahia Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road.

“Tinubu has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to delivering infrastructure progress and the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot-Ekpene Road is no exception.

“The government’s record speaks for itself, no misinformation can eclipse the tangible strides made daily on this project.

“To insinuate that the project has been abandoned is not only disingenuous but portrays a troubling disregard for verifiable facts.

He said that it was, therefore, unfortunate to claim that the project had been abandoned as being insinuated in some quarters.

According to him, to argue that the APC-led Federal Government was no longer committed to the complete rehabilitation of the road was unfortunate.

“The claims are erroneous, and deliberately crafted to stoke public disaffection and misrepresent the actual state of affairs regarding the road.

“It represents nothing but a disservice to the Federal Government’s efforts,’’ Onuigbo said.

He said he led other stakeholders from the area to convince the Federal Government to intervene in rehabilitating the road.

“We were successful in getting the then Minister of Works, Babatunde Fahola  to award the road contracts. However, funding has always been a problem.

“We were successful in getting the then minister to award the road contracts. However, funding has always been a problem.

“Then we went back and appealed to him, and he was able to move the road to NNPC funding on Road Tax Credit Scheme.

“For the government to approve the sum of N14.37 billion on Feb. 3, 2025, for the same road, means that the road has not been abandoned or neglected,” he told newsmen.

He described the road to be a major economic project for the nation because it links oil-producing states of Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Abia States.

He said it also leads to the commercial city of Aba and Export Processing Zone in Calabar.

“The people of that zone have indeed suffered for lack of good road. I think that is why they are working hard to make sure that the road is fixed.

“Like I said, you can use that road also to go to Cameroon. So it is a major economic point for the nation and I believe that the government realises its importance,’’ Onuigbo said.

He recalled that the road had suffered neglect for years until the APC-led Federal Government intervened in 2016. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Uche Anunne

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Magdalene Ukuedojor

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