The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has firmly ruled out the need for a separate Biafran state, arguing that the South-East is now fully woven into Nigeria’s national development framework under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking during an inspection tour of federal projects across the South-East, Umahi said the long-standing sense of exclusion that once fuelled separatist agitations has eased significantly, thanks to massive investments in infrastructure across the region.
According to him, the narrative has changed. “There will be no need for Biafra again,” the minister declared, noting that previous agitations were driven by feelings of neglect. “Today, I can confidently say that the South-East is fully integrated into the Nigerian system.”
Umahi expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, describing the region as satisfied and optimistic under the current administration. “We are comfortable and very happy with this government,” he said.
The former Ebonyi State governor reeled out a long list of federal projects, stressing that many had been abandoned for over a decade before the Tinubu administration revived them. He cited a major road section being executed by RCC at a cost of N202 billion, scheduled for completion by February next year, as well as another 72-kilometre stretch handled by SKCC, which has already received 30 per cent funding.
“You can see the excitement everywhere,” he added.
Umahi said the federal government is focused on long-lasting infrastructure, particularly concrete roads designed to endure for up to a century. He likened the approach to that used on the coastal highway project.
Among key projects he highlighted were the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, Section 2B of the Second Niger Bridge valued at N176 billion, the completed Artisan Bridge in Enugu, and a massive flyover at Depot Junction in Eke-Obinagu.
He also mentioned the N172 billion Enugu–Abakaliki Road and a 123-kilometre “legacy project” worth N424 billion, stretching from Ndibe Beach in Ebonyi State to the Benue border.
“These are the reasons I say there is no justification for agitation anymore,” Umahi stated, expressing confidence that President Tinubu would sustain the momentum.
Turning to politics, the minister said the South-East must pursue relevance through calculated strategy, not emotional rhetoric. He described his support for Tinubu and the recent defection of the Enugu State governor to the APC as deliberate moves aimed at strengthening the region’s position nationally.
Umahi also commended governors in the South-East, particularly his successor in Ebonyi State, for prioritising development over publicity.
He concluded by describing the moment as a defining opportunity for the region. “This is our time,” he said. “God has opened the door, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been sent to reintegrate our people.”
The South-East has continued to grapple with insecurity linked to separatist agitations, largely championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted on terrorism-related charges, with IPOB designated as a terrorist organisation by the federal government.
What is your view — do you believe the South-East is still marginalised under President Tinubu’s administration? Share your thoughts in the comments.
