By Gabriel Ameh
The Democratic Front (TDF) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as a transformative step in opening the South East to significant regional and international trade opportunities through the ongoing Trans-Saharan Superhighway project.
The group noted that the 123.6-kilometre highway, which connects Ebonyi State through parts of the South South, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa States in the North Central, represents a major infrastructure investment valued at about N668 billion.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, TDF described the project as a strategic development initiative with far-reaching economic implications for the South East and Nigeria as a whole.
According to the group, the superhighway is not only an infrastructure project but also a key trade corridor that will enhance commerce, improve connectivity, and expand access to regional and international markets.
TDF further stated that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, had explained that the highway aligns with a long-abandoned colonial-era infrastructure vision that successive governments failed to implement due to funding constraints and lack of political will.
The group added that beyond its economic significance, the project would ease interstate transportation, strengthen cultural integration, and promote social interaction among diverse communities across the connected states.
TDF also commended the Tinubu administration for what it described as sustained developmental attention to the South East, citing the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) as a key milestone.
The group noted that the Federal Government had also provided an initial take-off grant of N140 billion to the commission, aimed at addressing long-standing infrastructural and developmental gaps in the region.
It argued that successive post-civil war development efforts had not sufficiently addressed the region’s needs, but claimed that recent interventions under the Tinubu administration had significantly improved federal presence in the South East.
TDF concluded by urging continued support for the administration, stating that ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Saharan Superhighway require sustained cooperation to ensure timely completion and maximum impact.
