The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is set to demolish a 60-metre-high mountain obstructing the construction of the 65-kilometre Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Federal Road.
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, disclosed this on Saturday while inspecting the ongoing road project in Okigwe, Imo State, saying the demolition would ease movement and improve safety for motorists and commuters along the corridor.
“This mountain, by the command of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must collapse for the people of South-East,” he said.
He described the mountain section as one of the most technically challenging portions of the project, stressing that its removal would significantly improve safety and reduce loss of lives on the route.
“This place is very challenging. We have a mountain that is over 60 metres high. If God helps us in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to achieve this, this will be a major saving of lives for the people of South-East. This place has consumed many lives,” Umahi said.
The minister disclosed that more than 20 kilometres of the 65-kilometre road had already been completed, while commending the contractor for the quality of work.
The project is being executed under the Federal Government’s tax-credit scheme, with Dangote Industries Limited as the sponsoring company and Hi-Tech Construction as the contractor.
The Project Controller, Engr. Maxwell Oko, said the Highway F112 project comprises 9.9 kilometres of dual carriageway and 55.55 kilometres of single carriageway.
He said the highway serves as a major arterial route linking communities and adjoining federal highways across Ebonyi, Abia and Imo states, with significant implications for trade and transportation.
The Managing Director of Hi-Tech Construction, Christopher Aucamp, said preparatory work had commenced at the mountainous section ahead of intensive excavation and earthworks.
He disclosed that three excavators would be deployed to accelerate the excavation and reshaping of the difficult terrain.
“We bring three excavators down so we can start demolishing the mountain and start filling the full areas to straighten the road out a little bit,” Aucamp said.
Aucamp also disclosed that the contractor was constructing a second bypass to facilitate safer movement for students and other road users while work continued around the mountain section.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Southeast, Barr. Chioma Nweze, commended the Federal Government for prioritising strategic road infrastructure in the region.
Nweze said the Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe highway would improve connectivity, open up communities and markets, and stimulate commercial activities across Ebonyi, Abia and Imo states.
The road, when completed, is expected to provide a strategic transport link between the three states and improve access to markets, institutions and adjoining interstate highways.