The Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, has rejected renewed calls for the creation of a separate Biafran state, arguing that such demands are no longer justified given what he described as the deepening inclusion of the Igbo in Nigeria’s national development framework under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Umahi made this position known during an inspection tour of ongoing federal infrastructure projects across the South-East. He said the sense of exclusion that once drove separatist agitations had largely diminished, owing to increased federal presence in the region through massive investments in road construction and other key infrastructure.
According to him, agitation for Biafra thrived in the past because many people in the South-East felt sidelined by previous administrations. However, he maintained that the situation has changed significantly. “There is no longer any reason to talk about Biafra,” Umahi said, stressing that the region is now firmly integrated into the Nigerian mainstream.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, noting that the South-East feels comfortable and satisfied with the current administration’s approach to inclusion and development. Umahi said the region is pleased with the level of attention it is receiving from the federal government.
The minister highlighted several ongoing and completed projects in the South-East, pointing out that many of them had remained abandoned or stagnant for more than a decade before the present government revived them. He cited a major road project being executed by MTN under RCC, valued at N202 billion, which he said is scheduled for completion by February next year. Another 72-kilometre road project handled by SKCC, costing N150 billion, has already received 30 per cent of its funding, according to him.
Umahi explained that the federal government is focusing on long-lasting infrastructure, particularly concrete roads designed to endure for between 50 and 100 years. He said this approach mirrors the standard being applied to other major projects across the country, including the coastal highway.
Among the key projects he listed are the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway, the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, and Section 2B of the Second Niger Bridge, which he said is valued at N176 billion. He also referenced the completion of the Artisan Bridge in Enugu and the ongoing construction of what he described as the largest flyover in the South-East at Depot Junction, Eke-Obinagu.
Additional projects mentioned include the Enugu–Abakaliki Road, costing N172 billion, as well as a major legacy project worth N424 billion. This project spans 123 kilometres, linking Ndibe Beach in Ebonyi State to the Benue border.
Umahi said these developments underscore why renewed agitation for Biafra is unnecessary, adding that President Tinubu, who initiated these projects, would see them through to completion.
He further argued that the South-East’s quest for political relevance should be driven by careful planning and strategic engagement rather than emotional rhetoric. According to him, progress cannot be achieved through anger or inflammatory statements, but through realistic and calculated actions.
The minister described his support for President Tinubu, as well as the recent defection of the Enugu State governor to the All Progressives Congress, as deliberate and strategic political moves aimed at strengthening the region’s position nationally.
He also commended governors in the South-East, singling out his successor in Ebonyi State for sustaining a culture of continuous project execution without waiting for formal commissioning ceremonies.
Umahi concluded by describing the current period as a defining moment for the South-East, saying the time has come for the region to reclaim its rightful place in national affairs. He added that the present administration represents a divine opportunity to fully reintegrate the South-East into Nigeria’s political and developmental landscape.