National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Works has assured special intervention on federal roads in the South East geo-political zone , with special attention to the Onitsha – Enugu and Enugu-Makurdi roads.
Chairman,Senate Committee on Works, Rt. Hon Akin Alabi gave the assurance on Friday, 19 September,2025, when he led a delegation of the NASS Joint committee on a courtesy visit on the Governor of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah in Government House,Enugu.
Alabi told Governor Mbah that they were in the state to carry out their oversight functions of the federal government projects, ministry of works in the South East zone.
He expressed satisfaction with some of the projects they saw and disappointment with some projects.
” We are taking a look at the projects of the federal ministry of works, quite a few of them..We have been impressed with some of them, we have our reservations with some of them and we are taking our reports back to the floor of the house and floor of the senate,” he said .
Commending Governor Mbah on his good works in the state, the Committee’s chairman said, “checking these projects, contractors kept saying something, (without asking, without prompting them)they kept saying the governor had been very helpful . Security wise, they feel very safe, they feel very at home . They said you even approved their right of way, because we all know, if a governor wants to frustrate the project of the federal government in his state, he will frustrate it. The roads will be majorly used by the people of Enugu state.
“So, for a governor that cares for the people of Enugu state, you are not frustrating these projects.. You are making them to go on smoothly and everywhere this committee goes ,we will continue to sing your praise. We will sing your praise to the floor of the House of Reps, the floor of the senate,. every where we get the opportunity, we thank you for that your Excellency, he said.
He added that he did his own findings and people said Governor Mbah was doing well.
RT. Hon Alabi described Enugu state as a good state, saying, “Enugu state is going higher.It’s getting better and with the two years you have been here,it has moved forward as well. We want to thank you for being a good governor. As you work progressively to the progressive side of things we are happy. We will welcome you on the progressive side of things, “he said.
Responding, Governor Mbah described the committee as” one of the most important committees in the House of senate and House of Representatives .
He appealed that Enugu be given a special attention, being an administrative hub for the southern zone in the past, saying ,
“we understand the value of roads. When we talk about growing our economy exponentially, you cannot do that without providing road infrastructure , providing access. It’s road that connects markets, it road that connects people. We take roads seriously. Our objective is to do all our roads without exception..
Our target is to ensure that all our roads are paved .In working with the federal government we also get involved .
Commending the federal government for it’s intervention, Governor Mbah urged the contractors to increase their pace of work
He disclosed that the state government intervened where there were obstructions in terms of Right of Ways and paid compensation.
Appealing for more intervention , Governor Mbah said, ” there are still some critical roads. My team and I are quite happy to submit some of these roads. So that we can factor them into the budget next year and if we can somehow get the federal government to pay special attention to roads in Enugu, given its historical background.
Pix: Gov Mbah
“Recognise Enugu state as a special case for road intervention, ” Gov. Mbah appealed. He urged the committee to intervene and fast track the Onitsha – Enugu Express way and Makurdi -Enugu road other interventions. He thanked the federal government for it’s quick intervention when there was a bridge failure sometime ago in Enugu .
Author : Maureen Ikpeama.