APGA Hails Tinubu Over Approval Of Otuocha-Anam-Abaji Road Project

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the construction of the 180-kilometre Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road, describing the decision as a demonstration of progressive politics.

The party also welcomed the approval for the reconstruction of the Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube–Okigwe Junction Road, a 150-kilometre federal highway that has appeared in successive national budgets since the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo but has remained uncompleted.

According to APGA, the Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road project was first awarded in 2009 during the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was later re-awarded to the same contractor. The party alleged that billions of naira were paid for the project despite little or no visible progress.

The Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube–Okigwe Junction Road, APGA noted, has deteriorated over the years due to severe gully erosion, forcing many motorists to abandon the route.

In a statement, APGA National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, said there are moments in politics when policy moves beyond rhetoric and translates into tangible infrastructure such as roads, bridges and improved access.

“The joy across Anambra, the South-East and indeed the entire region is palpable,” Opara said.

He explained that Governor Chukwuma Soludo recently announced through his social media platforms that President Tinubu had approved the two major federal road projects, which he said would significantly reshape the economic landscape of the South-East.

Opara recalled that on July 1, Governor Soludo met with President Tinubu and discussed the infrastructure deficit that has hindered the region’s development for decades.

According to him, the following day, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, requested details of the priority road projects presented by the governor.

He said Governor Soludo subsequently forwarded two strategic road corridors for consideration, including the dualisation of the Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road, which links Anambra State with Kogi State and provides a direct route to the North-Central region.

He added that the proposed dualisation of the 150-kilometre Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube–Okigwe Junction Road would strengthen connectivity between Anambra, Imo and Abia states while linking them to the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway.

“Twelve days later, on July 15, the Ministry of Works confirmed that Mr President had approved both roads for design and procurement,” he stated.

Opara argued that, for too long, discussions about the South-East’s relationship with the Federal Government had centred on perceived neglect, adding that the latest approvals represent a shift in that narrative.

“These are not just roads within a state; they are regional economic corridors. The Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road integrates the South-East with the North-Central and Nigeria’s food-producing belt, while the Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube Road connects Anambra, Imo and Abia to one of the country’s busiest commercial routes, the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway,” he said.

According to him, the projects will reduce travel time, lower transportation costs, improve security through increased movement of people and goods, and unlock investment opportunities across multiple geopolitical zones.

He further stated that the approvals demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to national integration by prioritising infrastructure development in the South-East.

“For those of us in politics, this is the ultimate validation. Politics must deliver. It must build alliances, negotiate in good faith and return with results that improve the daily lives of citizens,” Opara said.

He added that although several other key infrastructure projects are underway across the South-East, the approval of the two roads represents a significant milestone.

“History will be kind to the new brand of progressive politics binding President Tinubu and Governor Soludo—not because of speeches, but because of roads built, economies connected and old divisions healed,” he said.

APGA also alleged that the Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road project was originally awarded to Niger Construction Company in 2009 at a cost of about ₦5.8 billion for a 30-kilometre section, with a completion period of 24 months.

The party further claimed that additional allocations and revised contract sums were approved for the same project in subsequent years, despite limited progress, and alleged that aspects of the procurement process violated provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, citing records from the Corporate Affairs Commission.