David Umahi; The Minister of Works, visited the site to assess the speed and quality of work being carried out by indigenous contractors on major federal highway projects initiated by the Nigerian government. He said the performance of local construction firms reflects the growing strength of Nigeria’s domestic engineering capacity.
Umahi made the remarks during a weekend inspection of ongoing work along a section of the Calabar Corridor of the President’s Legacy Road Programme. According to him, the corridor represents the first phase of a 465-kilometre highway expected to eventually connect southern Nigeria with Abuja, creating an important transport and economic route.
The minister noted that several indigenous contractors working with the Federal Ministry of Works (Nigeria) have continued construction activities despite not yet receiving mobilization funds. He praised their commitment, stating that many of the contractors had already moved equipment and personnel to project sites as a demonstration of patriotism and dedication to national development.
Umahi further revealed that at least eight local contractors are currently executing federal projects without initial funding from the government. He contrasted this with the approach of some foreign construction companies, which he said often delay project execution while evaluating political and economic conditions before committing their resources.
