By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
Commuters plying the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway have expressed relief following the inauguration of completed sections of the road, describing the development as a long-awaited solution to years of gridlock and hardship.
Commuters at Ugwu-Onyeama said the reopening of key sections had drastically reduced travel time, especially as movement increases during the Easter period.
A commercial driver, Theophilus Maduabuchi who regularly operates along the route, said journeys that previously took up to seven hours due to bad portions of the road can now be completed in far less time.
“We have suffered on this road for years. This is a big relief for us. The government has done well,” he said.
Another passenger, Hilary Opi noted that beyond saving time, the improved sections would enhance safety and reduce vehicle damage often caused by the poor state of the highway.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, while inaugurating the project, described it as a major milestone in the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in the South-East.
Umahi attributed the progress on the over ₦350 billion project to the intervention of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the road had been in a deplorable condition for years before the current administration accelerated work.
He explained that although the contract was awarded before 2023, it suffered delays and was abandoned for about eight years under a tax credit scheme before the Federal Government stepped in to revive it.
According to the minister, a 72-kilometre stretch of the highway is being reconstructed using reinforced concrete at an estimated cost of ₦150 billion, with the first 15 kilometres already about 97 per cent completed and opened to traffic.
Umahi added that other sections, including those leading towards Anambra and the Niger Bridge axis, are at various stages of completion.
He noted that the adoption of reinforced concrete technology would significantly extend the lifespan of the road, with durability projected between 50 and 100 years.
The minister expressed optimism that upon completion, the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway would boost economic activities, improve safety, and ease transportation challenges across the South-East.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to completing the project by 2026, urging continued public support for ongoing infrastructure development initiatives.