For decades, the south-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria has worn the heavy cloak of marginalisation. It has been a narrative repeated in town hall meetings, on radio call-in programmes, and in the corridors of power.

The region that gave Nigeria its first indigenous President, its most renowned industrialists, and some of its finest intellectuals has, paradoxically, often complained of being left behind in the distribution of national infrastructure. Roads crumbled.

Bridges collapsed. Federal projects were inaugurated with fanfare, only to be abandoned to weeds and neglect. The cry was always the same: “We are not part of the centre.”

But something has changed. Over five days in June 2026, from the rocky terrain of Ebonyi to the bustling city of Enugu, from the farmlands of Abia to the commercial hubs of Anambra and Imo, the renewed hope media tour of the south-east laid bare a new reality. What the delegation of over 50 editors, journalists, and presidential aides witnessed was not a region waiting for development.

It was a region where development had already arrived—on concrete pavements, in smart schools, through free housing, and across newly constructed flyovers.

The narrative of neglect is no longer tenable. And the man at the centre of this transformation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has, through his renewed hope agenda, done what many thought impossible: he has begun to heal a wound that had festered for generations.

THE ARCHITETURE OF RENEWAL: HOW SUBSIDY REMOVAL UNLOCKED THE SOUTH-EAST

To understand the scale of what is happening in the South-East, one must first understand the fiscal revolution that made it possible. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state, during the tour, was characteristically blunt. He stated that increased financial support to subnational governments under President Tinubu’s administration has been responsible for the remarkable infrastructure development in the state.

“It would have been impossible, to say the least, for us as a state to have done things at a scale we did without some of the bold and courageous policies of Mr. President,” he declared. “First of all, what the policies of Mr. President did for subnationals is largely to free up resources”.

This is the core of the renewed hope agenda: a belief that economic growth does not come from the top down, but from the periphery upward. President Tinubu has been intentional about strengthening the periphery, both in terms of responsibility and finance.

The removal of the fuel subsidy, the unification of exchange rates, tax reforms, and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) have collectively created a fiscal environment where states can dream big.

The evidence is unmistakable. Before these reforms, many states struggled to pay salaries and had little left for capital expenditure.

Today, as Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, observed in Ebonyi, “The state is conceiving projects it would never have thought of before. It is doing those projects without having to go to the bank to borrow money”.

This is not rhetoric. This is the tangible result of a federal government that has chosen to empower its subnational units rather than suffocate them.

EBONYI: FROM THE SAFEST TO THE MOST AMBITIOUS

The tour began in Ebonyi state, and what the delegation found was nothing short of extraordinary. Governor Francis Nwifuru has declared his state the safest in Nigeria, with no reported kidnapping cases since he assumed office. But safety, it turns out, is only the foundation. On top of it, Nwifuru has built an ambitious programme of infrastructure development that rivals anything seen in the region.

The federal government’s Trans-Saharan Superhighway, a colonial-era dream long forgotten, is now being brought to life under the Tinubu administration. Minister of works, Senator Dave Umahi, himself a former governor of Ebonyi, described the project as strategic to the south-east, south-south, and parts of the north-central region.

Section One, initially 118 kilometres, has been extended to 123.6 kilometres with a contract sum of N45 billion, and dualisation works are ongoing. Section two, running from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi to Nasarawa, has been awarded at N668 billion.

The project has reached about 28 percent completion in some areas, with work continuing even during the rainy season, thanks to President Tinubu’s adoption of concrete road technology.

The Onueke Flyover, a N35 billion federal project designed to decongest the Trans-Saharan highway, stands as a testament to the scale of federal investment in the region. Standing 90 metres high and flanked by a 2.2-kilometre road on both sides, it is not just infrastructure; it is a statement.

But the state’s ambition extends beyond federal projects. The 22-kilometre Izeagu-Azulu rural road, connecting four communities with an eight-inch concrete pavement, exemplifies the state government’s commitment to rural connectivity.

The conversion of an abandoned trade centre into a multi-storey modern hotel, the construction of the Ebonyi State University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering Science, and the free housing estates for civil servants all point to a government that is using its increased federal allocations to dream big. As Onanuga put it, “Ebonyi state, in particular, is dreaming big and doing big things”.

ENUGU: CONNECTING THE DOTS TO A $30 BILLION ECONOMY 

If Ebonyi represents ambition, Enugu represents audacity. Governor Peter Mbah has set a target to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031. To achieve this, he is connecting the dots across multiple sectors—aviation, tourism, security, education, healthcare, and urban development.

The concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport is a critical piece of this puzzle. This is the first airport in Nigeria’s history to be successfully concessioned.

The Enugu state government has also established Enugu Air, with six aircraft acquired in phase one, to ensure consistent airlift capacity independent of third-party schedules. The target is to bring in three million visitors annually, requiring 100 aircraft landings per day. This is not fantasy; it is a carefully calibrated plan to transform Enugu into a tourism and investment destination.

The New Enugu Smart City is another component of this vision. Spanning 10,000 hectares, it is bigger than Phase 1 of the Federal Capital Territory and comparable in size to Paris.

The first phase alone covers 1,000 hectares—twice the size of Victoria Island. All utilities—electricity, water, fibre optics, sewage, and surveillance—are underground. There will be no overhead cables, no generators, no boreholes. It is a smart, liveable city designed for a 15-minute walk lifestyle. And it will be delivered by November 2026.

But Mbah is equally focused on the fundamentals. The state has dedicated 33% of its budget to education for three consecutive years, building over 7,000 classrooms and 267 smart green schools equipped with robotics centres, AI hubs, and 3D printers.

The pedagogy has been reformed from rote learning to experiential learning, with teachers trained at the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation (CELI). The logic is unassailable: “If we don’t get these kids skilfully equipped, they will take to criminality as a venture tomorrow. So, we might as well spend that money today, training them.”

The 300-bed Enugu International Specialist Hospital, equipped with MRI machines, cancer treatment facilities, and modern surgical theatres, is designed to capture a share of the $2 billion annual medical tourism market. The 38.6-kilometre Enugu–Onitsha–Port Harcourt concrete pavement road, the dualisation of the 21.5-kilometre Enugu International Airport road, and the Abakpa flyover interchange bridge are all evidence of a government that is building for the long term.

Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu west, captured the mood of the region when he declared: “To be honest, I was among those who previously felt that Enugu and the south-east had been neglected by the federal government. But that is now a thing of the past. Under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, we have been carried along”.

He cited the Eke Obinagu flyover, the reconstructed Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, and the Enugu-Onitsha road as evidence that the south-east is no longer marginalised. “How can we be marginalised when we have the Honourable Minister for Works for the first time? And who is performing? We cannot be marginalised”.

ABIA: A GOVERNOR WITHOUT PARTY COLOURS, DELIVERING WITH FEDERAL SUPPORT

The tour in Abia State offered a different but equally compelling narrative. Here was a governor from the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Alex Otti, working seamlessly with a federal government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sunday Dare, special adviser to the president on media and public communication, noted that “political party differences make no difference when it comes to governance”. “When it comes to the development of your people, you don’t essentially have to wear party colours. Because when you play too much party politics, development suffers, and your people suffer”.

The projects inspected in Abia were impressive. The 67-kilometre Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Ohafia Road, a state-financed project, connects over 20 communities and facilitates the movement of agricultural produce. The Omenuko Bridge along the Ohafia–Umuahia corridor strengthens critical transportation infrastructure serving thousands of commuters. The Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal in Umuahia is a modern transportation hub designed to transform public transportation in the state.

But the highlight was the renewed hope housing estate in Umuahia, a flagship federal government project comprising 1,200 housing units. The Abia state government provided the land and paid compensation to affected landowners, while the federal government, through the federal housing authority, is undertaking the construction.

This is collaboration at its best—federal and state governments working together to address the nation’s housing deficit. The Onuinyan Bende renewed Hope housing project, another significant development, further underscores the federal government’s commitment to reducing the housing deficit through strategic investments in affordable housing.

THE UNIFYING THREAD: INCLUSION, NOT MARGINALISATION

What ties these three states together is not just the scale of projects, but the philosophy behind them. President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda has been deliberate in ensuring that development does not bear tribal marks. As one official put it, “The vision is that it does not bear tribal marks or ethnic marks. So long as you are part of a Nigerian state, development will reach you”.

This is a significant departure from the past. For decades, the South-East complained of exclusion. Today, that complaint no longer holds water. Senator Ngwu’s admission that he was among those who felt marginalised but now sees the evidence of federal investment is a powerful testimony to the shift that has occurred.

Minister Umahi’s declaration that “all our forefathers sought—inclusiveness—we have it now” is a fitting epitaph for the old narrative of neglect.

The Renewed Hope Housing projects are a perfect example of this inclusivity. In Kano, houses are at about 60 percent completion. In Abuja and other states, they are at 45 percent. In Abia, progress is at about 35 percent. This is not a project for one region or one tribe; it is a national programme. The vision is that it does not bear tribal marks or ethnic marks. So long as you are part of a Nigerian state, development will reach you. That is a powerful statement of intent, and it is being backed by action.

THE CRITICS AND THE FACTS 

Of course, there will be critics. There are always critics. Some will say the projects are not enough. Others will question the quality. A few will even deny what is plainly visible. But the evidence from the Renewed Hope Media Tour is overwhelming.

Over five days, across five states, the delegation saw completed flyovers, ongoing expressway reconstructions, smart schools, specialist hospitals, housing estates, and ambitious new cities. These are not “audio projects”—they are concrete, steel, and glass.

The improvements on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway alone have reduced travel time from five to six hours to just over two hours. That is not a marginal improvement; it is a transformation. The Eke Obinagu Flyover has resolved a long-standing transportation problem on the route connecting Enugu and Ebonyi states. The concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport will soon allow direct flights from Enugu to the US, UK, and China. These are not promises; they are achievements.

A NEW DAW FOR THE SOUTH-EAST

The renewed hope media tour of the south-east has accomplished what no press release could: it has provided irrefutable evidence that the region is no longer neglected. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the south-east is being rebuilt road by road, bridge by bridge, school by school, and house by house. The fiscal reforms of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, have given states the resources to dream big and deliver. And the governors of the region have risen to the occasion, executing projects that were once considered impossible.

The narrative of marginalisation is no longer tenable. It is time for the South-East to recognise that it is now part of the centre. It is time for the region to celebrate its inclusion rather than mourn its exclusion. And it is time for Nigerians across the country to see that the renewed hope agenda is not a slogan; it is a strategy that is delivering tangible results in every corner of the nation.

As President Tinubu’s Special Adviser, Sunday Dare, noted: “By the time we conclude our assessment across the six geopolitical zones, Nigerians will have enough evidence that the President is working for the country”. The South-East tour has provided that evidence. The region is no longer waiting for development. It is living it.

The post Infrastructural development: How Tinubu is transforming the south-east first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The renewed hope media Tour of Abia state has uncovered a story of transformation that deserves to be told.

From the 67‑kilometre Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Ohafia road, which was in a state of decay for almost two decades, to the renewed hope housing estates rising in Umuahia and Onuinyang

Bende, and the ongoing work on federal corridors like the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway, Abia is witnessing an infrastructure renaissance that few could have predicted just a few years ago. The evidence is no longer anecdotal; it is visible, verifiable, and increasingly difficult to ignore.

THE ROAD THAT UNITES 20 COMMUNITIES

The 67‑kilometre Umuahia–Ohafia road is a testament to what happens when a state government prioritises connectivity. Before this administration, the road was almost impassable, a decaying relic that had been abandoned for close to two decades.

Communities along the corridor were cut off from markets, agricultural produce rotted before it could reach buyers, and minerals that could have driven local economies remained trapped in the earth. The state government, understanding the economic and social benefits of the road, awarded it to three construction companies, who worked simultaneously and delivered the project in record time. Today, over 20 communities are linked, agricultural produce moves freely, and social connections that were once severed have been restored.

THE ECONOMIC LOGIC OF STREETLIGHTS 

During the tour, a curious observation was made. Upon entering Abia state, the delegation noticed streetlights along the road. The honourable commissioner for works explained that the streetlights are not a contradiction; they are a deliberate investment in economic activity.

Streetlights extend the hours of commerce, improve security, and signal to investors that the state is serious about creating an enabling environment. Communities that were once dark and dangerous after sunset are now illuminated, allowing businesses to operate longer and residents to move freely. This is infrastructure with a human face.

RENEWED HOPE HOUSING: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

The renewed hope housing estates in Abia are another critical piece of the puzzle. In Umuahia, 1,200 housing units are being built, with the first phase targeting low and mid‑income earners. In Onuinyang Bende, facilitated by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, 180 units are proposed.

These are not just houses; they are the foundation of a new social contract between the government and its citizens. President Tinubu has been clear that the renewed hope housing agenda is about more than just roofs; it is about restoring dignity, creating jobs, and stimulating local economies. And the numbers bear this out: almost 1,648 Nigerians have already benefited from mortgages, with close to N218 billion disbursed.

SIMULTANEOUS DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NIGERIA 

What is perhaps most significant about the Renewed Hope housing projects is that they are happening simultaneously across every geopolitical zone. In Kano, houses are at about 60 percent completion. In Abuja and other states, they are at 45 percent.

In Abia, progress is at about 35 percent. This is not a project for one region or one tribe; it is a national programme. As one official put it, “The vision is that it does not bear tribal marks or ethnic marks. So long as you are part of a Nigerian state, development will reach you.” That is a powerful statement of intent, and it is being backed by action.

THE FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP

The Abia inspection also highlighted the synergy between federal and state governments. While the Umuahia–Ohafia road is a state project, it complements federal efforts on corridors like the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway and the Owerri–Abia–Imo federal road.

The federal government provided the groundbreaking for the renewed hope housing estates, and the state government has executed its own projects to enhance connectivity.

This is the partnership that the renewed hope agenda envisions: federal policy enabling state execution, and the people reaping the rewards.

Abia state, like Enugu and Ebonyi before it, is demonstrating that the south‑east is no longer an afterthought. It is a priority.

The road that connects 20 communities, the streetlights that illuminate commerce, the housing estates that restore dignity, and the federal corridors that link the region to the rest of the country are all evidence of a government that is serious about development.

The renewed hope agenda is not a slogan; it is a strategy. And in Abia, the strategy is working.

The post Abia state: A roadmap for renewed hope in south‑east first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

There is a phrase that echoes through every conversation with Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State: “connecting the dots.”

It is not a political slogan. It is a governing philosophy. And it is the only way to make sense of the unprecedented wave of infrastructure sweeping across Enugu.

From the concession of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport to the creation of a new smart city bigger than Paris, from 267 smart green schools to 260 farm estates, from a world‑class international hospital to a security network that has ended the sit‑at‑home era, every project is deliberately linked to a single audacious goal: growing Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031.

That goal, when Governor Mbah first announced it, was met with scepticism. A 27 percent compound annual growth rate seemed impossible, given the historical trajectory of the state.

But as the Governor explained during an exclusive interview with the Renewed Hope media team, “We realised that we needed to do things differently. This is going to be an era of quantum leap, disruptive innovation. That growth is going to be government‑enabled but private sector‑driven.”

And the enabler of that vision? President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold economic reforms, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, which freed up resources for sub‑nationals to act at scale.

THE SUBSIDY REMOVAL: A GAME‑CHANGER FOR ENUGU

Governor Mbah was unequivocal about the impact of the president’s policies. “I think it would have been impossible, to say the least, for us to have done things at the scale we did without some of the bold and courageous policies of Mr. President. What the policies of Mr. President did for sub‑nationals is largely to free up resources.”

He contrasted this with the struggles of his predecessor, who often had to choose between paying salaries and funding capital projects. Today, Enugu is building new cities, airports, and schools because the federation account is now delivering more funds to the states.

The removal of subsidies, the unification of the exchange rate, the tax reforms, and the NELFUND policy have all contributed to a fiscal environment where ambitious state governments can thrive.

Without security, none of this works. Governor Mbah invested heavily in technology, deploying AI‑enabled cameras, a distress response squad (DRS), and a command‑and‑control centre.

He also worked with federal security agencies to end the illegal sit‑at‑home order, which once paralysed the state. “If you have done nine things well and there’s an error in one, that one gets magnified and diminishes everything you’ve done,” the governor noted.

So, the state monitors its nine gateways, uses body cams and helmet cams on officers, and works collaboratively with the army, police, DSS, and civil defence. The result is a state where investors can feel safe and a key barrier to private capital has been removed.

AVIATION AND TOURISM: THE GATEWAY TO THREE MILLION VISITORS

The airport concession is a critical dot. Governor Mbah explained that Enugu’s target is to bring in three million visitors annually.

That requires 100 aircraft landings per day, a number impossible under the old regime where only four or five flights operated daily. So, the state set up Enugu Air, now operating close to 20 flights daily, and worked with an investor to successfully concession the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

This is the first airport in Nigeria’s history to be successfully concessioned, and the Governor gave full credit to President Tinubu. “It took Mr. President standing behind this deal for this success to be recorded. Very soon, you will be able to get a direct flight from Enugu to the US, the UK, and China,” he said.

To attract those visitors, the state is building four immersive tourism sites, including the longest zip line in Africa and a cable car system. These are not isolated attractions; they are pull factors designed to fill the airport and drive the hospitality sector.

THE NEW ENUGU CITY BUILT IN RECORD TIME 

The most visible symbol of this ambition is the New Enugu Smart City. Spanning 10,000 hectares, it is bigger than Phase 1 of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and comparable in size to Paris.

The first phase is already under construction, with a six‑kilometre primary dual carriageway built to higher standards than Abuja’s roads. One hundred kilometres of secondary and tertiary roads are being constructed simultaneously, a scale unmatched by any district in the FCT.

All utilities; electricity, water, fibre optics, sewage, and surveillance are underground. There will be no overhead cables, no generators, no boreholes. It is a smart, liveable city designed for a 15‑minute walk lifestyle.

The international hospital being built in Enugu is designed to capture a share of the $2 billion annual medical tourism market. Equipped with SPECT and PET scanners, it will provide advanced oncology diagnostics and treatment. “If you’re bringing in an investor, two things matter: security and where they go when they are sick,” the Governor said. By building a world‑class hospital, Enugu is removing another barrier to investment.

EDUCATION: 267 SMART GREEN SCHOOLS AND A NEW PEDAGOGY

Education is the longest‑term investment. Enugu has dedicated 33 percent of its budget to education for three consecutive years, building 7,000 classrooms and 267 smart green schools. The new pedagogy is experiential learning, moving away from rote memorisation to problem‑solving.

Teachers are trained at the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation (CELI), and students learn practical skills from age three. The Governor’s logic is unassailable: “If we don’t get these kids skillfully equipped, they will take to criminality as a venture tomorrow. So we might as well spend that money today, training them”.

Agriculture is not just about food security; it is big business. Enugu is building 260 farm estates, each 200 hectares, ring‑fenced and equipped with tractors, implements, agronomists, storage, and aggregation centres. Small‑holder farmers are being transformed into mechanised commercial farmers. The state is also building agro‑processing zones in conjunction with the federal government and Afreximbank, connecting production to exports.

The genius of the Mbah administration lies in how each initiative reinforces the others. The international airport and the new airline are essential to the tourism sector, which is essential to achieving the $30 billion GDP target. The New Enugu Smart City is designed to attract the investors and skilled professionals needed to drive economic transformation, which in turn relies on the security infrastructure that makes the state safe.

The education reforms are designed to create the skilled workforce needed for the jobs generated by the new economy. The healthcare investments are designed to make the state a destination for quality care, which again serves both residents and visitors. This is not a list of projects; it is a meticulously planned ecosystem.

THE DOTS ARE CONNECTED 

Governor Mbah’s vision was made executable by President Tinubu’s subsidy removal, which gave states the fiscal space to dream big.

And his determination to connect the dots has resulted in a coherent, integrated development strategy that is already delivering results. As the Renewed Hope media tour has shown, Enugu is not waiting for the future. It is building it, one dot at a time.

The post Connecting the dots: How Peter Mbah and President Tinubu are building a new Enugu first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The sun was already assertive over Abakaliki when our convoy of media vehicles pulled out of the Government House gates.

I had covered infrastructure tours before, the kind where you drive for hours, see a billboard, shake hands with a contractor, and return with a press release.

But this renewed hope media tour of the south-east felt different from the first mile. There was an electricity in the air, the kind that comes not from speeches but from the sight of earth-moving equipment actually moving, of concrete pavements stretching beyond the horizon, and of local communities lining the roads to wave at us.

By the time we settled into our first stop, I knew I was witnessing something more than a routine inspection. I was watching a government determined to prove that a colonial-era dream, the Trans-Sahara highway, could finally be wrestled into reality.

Our team lead, Bayo Onanuga, set the tone at the flag-off. Standing under a makeshift canopy at the edge of the Onueke flyover site, he looked at the assembled journalists and said, “For me, this is like a second home. The last time I was here, I went to the Minister of Information.

We saw a lot of things that are happening. And on my own, as I am telling people, come and join me. I want to see something you’ve never seen in another part of Nigeria.” He wasn’t boasting. Over the next ten hours, I would see exactly what he meant.

THE ONUEKE FLYOVER: CONCRETE AMBITION

Our first technical stop was the Onueke flyover, a 90-metre structure that, when completed, will soar over the Trans‑Sahara highway. The minister of works, Senator Dave Umahi, stood before us, a tablet in one hand and a pointing stick in the other. He explained that this is a N35 billion federal project, designed to decongest one of the busiest trade corridors in West Africa.

“The Trans‑Sahara superhighway was the idea of the colonial masters,” Umahi said, his voice carrying over the rumble of nearby graders. “They were using this route for trading palm oil from the east, granite from the north, and even slave trading. That pathway has been a dream for 60 years. Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man divinely called to do the impossible, is fulfilling that dream.”

He walked us to the edge of the foundation, where steel reinforcements jutted out like the ribs of a sleeping giant. “You see that?” he pointed. “Grade 40 concrete. Reinforced. This flyover will have a 2.2-kilometre road on both sides. By the end of May, the foundation work, about 60 percent of the project, will be completed. Before December, the entire flyover should be ready.”

I did the maths quickly: a 90-metre flyover flanked by more than four kilometres of approach roads, all to free up a highway that carries trade from Cameroon through Nigeria to the Sahel. That is not a bridge. That is a statement.

Umahi then turned to a larger canvas, the Calabar‑Ebonyi‑Benue superhighway. “Section one was originally an 118-kilometre single carriageway,” he said. “We reviewed it to 123.6 kilometres at a contract sum of N45 billion, and dualisation procurement is ongoing. Section two, from the Aboadi border through Benue and Kogi and ending in Nasarawa, has been awarded at N668 billion.”

He paused, letting the numbers settle. “We have attained about 28 percent completion in some parts, and we are not stopping because of rain. President Tinubu’s concrete road technology allows us to work through the wet season. That is the difference.”

CUTTING THROUGH HILLS TO SAVE LIVES

From Onueke, we drove towards Afikpo. The landscape changed from gentle savannah to steep hills, and the road narrowed into a winding valley that made even our experienced driver grip the wheel tighter. This, I learned, was the notorious Afikpo‑Amasiri stretch, a winding valley road that has consumed many lives over the decades. Here, the minister had a surprise for us. “We are doing the impossible,” he declared, gesturing at a massive cut through a rocky hill. “We are cutting through the hills so that this winding valley road will become a thing of the past. The cutting is more than 30 metres high.”

We got out and walked to the edge of the excavation. Thirty metres is about ten storeys. Below, workers were drilling and blasting in controlled sequences, while dump trucks hauled away debris.

“This is part of the Abakaliki‑Afikpo road,” Umahi said. “It will connect the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway corridor from Cross River through Ebonyi to Abuja.” He added that the first section, from Ndibe Beach to the Ebonyi‑Benue boundary, covers 123 kilometres and costs about N454 billion. “It will feature reinforced concrete pavement, solar-powered streetlights, and dual-carriageway sections in strategic locations.” I asked a local farmer who had stopped to watch. “Before, we lost many people in that valley,” he said in Igbo. “If they finish this cut, my children will not fear the road again.”

OKPOSI COMMUNITY: TWO CONTRACTS, ONE CONCRETE VISION

By mid-afternoon, we arrived at the Okposi community, where the minister stopped to explain an intricate network of roads. “We are standing in the middle of two contracts,” he said, pointing in opposite directions. “The first contract traverses Ohozhara Local Government, goes down to Enugu State, and empties at the Enugu‑Butterkote expressway.

It is 43 kilometres on reinforced concrete, by a local contractor, Age‑Link. The contract sum is N34 billion.” He turned 180 degrees. “Backwards here is 51 kilometres, N53 billion, going from this community through Okwu and Abomege and extending to Ughette in Cross River State.”

He then made a remark that I scribbled down verbatim. “This concrete technology does not understand who an expatriate is and who is a local contractor. The moment you don’t do it well, it will show. And if you do it well, it will obey you. The method is the same; the principle is the same; the quality is the same. Grade 40 concrete.” He revealed that the first contract, towards Enugu, is about 90 percent completed, and the second, towards Cross River, is about 60 percent completed. “The contractors have been paid substantially, though they are still owed some. But they are working.”

Perhaps the most exciting news came next. “In the 2026 budget, we have the extension of this project to the Akanribiam local government area, which is where the new army depot that the president gave to the south‑east is located. This road will extend to that place.” A new army depot, a gift from Tinubu to the south-east, is now to be linked by a reinforced concrete road. That is not just infrastructure; that is strategic integration.

THE POLITICAL UNDERTONE: SENATORS PROMISE ELECTORAL PAYBACK

As the day wore on, the minister allowed himself a moment of political reflection. He quoted Senator Alli Ndume from the north‑east, who had said, “President, we are very happy. You don’t need to come and campaign.

North‑east people will pay you back in the 2027 elections.” Then he added his own words. “The people of the south‑east are very, very grateful to Mr President. All that our forefathers sought for inclusiveness, we have it now.” He reminded us that none of the opposition aspirants – he called them “aspirants” because “in some parties there are more than four aspirants, so no candidate has emerged” – can match what Tinubu has done for the region.

A journalist asked about the Lagos‑Calabar coastal highway. Umahi’s eyes lit up. “That is a 350-kilometre legacy project. Section one is 7.47 kilometres, six lanes, with a 25-metre drain in the middle. The bank that did the funding said it was undervalued.” He noted that Section two, 55 kilometres from the deep-sea port axis of Lagos, will feature the longest flyover in Africa to allow for traffic flow. “Components 3a and 3b are on track for commissioning by December.”

He then linked everything. “On the Lagos‑Calabar corridor, we have about 75 dams that we are designing with the Water Resources Minister for irrigation and power. We are mapping out millions of hectares for agriculture, and the corridor will connect to the Lagos‑Abidjan highway at the Parakou axis.”

EBONYI’S SECURITY MIRACLE AND SUBSIDY REMOVAL GAINS

Before we left, the Ebonyi state governor welcomed us with a bold claim. “Since I assumed office, there has not been a single kidnapping in this state.”

He backed it with a tour of projects spread across every local government area, including rural roads, primary health centres, and water schemes. The media team spoke to market women and farmers, who corroborated the security environment. But what they praised even more was the impact of the fuel subsidy removal. One woman, selling rice at the Afikpo market, told me, “At first, the pump price hurt us. But now our governor has money to fix our roads. We see the difference.”

That is the subtle but powerful story of the renewed hope agenda. The removal of subsidies, though painful, has increased monthly FAAC allocations to states. Ebonyi, like many others, has used that fiscal space to embark on projects that were previously stalled. The governor’s claim of “zero kidnapping” is not just about police work; it is about roads that bring economic activity, which in turn reduces desperation and crime. It is a virtuous cycle.

A REPORTER’S VERDICT: NOT JUST ASPHALT, BUT INCLUSION

By the time we headed back to Abakaliki, the sun was low and my notebook was full. I had counted three flyovers inspected, over 200 kilometres of concrete roads verified, two interstate corridors mapped, and countless quotes that could fill a manifesto. But the overarching theme was not just concrete and steel. It was inclusion. The south-east has long complained of marginalisation in federal infrastructure. Today, I saw with my own eyes that the Trans‑Sahara highway, the Calabar‑Ebonyi‑Benue link, the Onueke flyover, and the extension to the new army depot are not promises. They are either under construction or nearing completion.

Bayo Onanuga had told us at the start, “I’m not just here for the president but also to showcase what the governments have done.” By the end of the day, I believed him.

The renewed hope media tour is not a propaganda exercise; it is an evidence-gathering mission that lays the facts before the public. And the facts from Ebonyi are these: hills are being cut, concrete is being poured, and a colonial dream is finally being realised. Senator Umahi put it best when he said, “God brought President Tinubu. God will keep him. We are there together for the next five years.”

I have covered many infrastructure tours in my career. Most left me with scepticism and a folder of unanswered questions. This one left me with dust on my shoes, a head full of numbers, and a strange, unfamiliar feeling: hope. Not the cheap kind that evaporates at the next election.

The kind that comes from watching a 30-metre cut through a hill that has killed people for generations. The kind that comes from seeing a local contractor, armed with Grade 40 concrete, outworking expatriates. The kind that whispers, ‘Maybe, this time, Nigeria is actually building.’

The post On the Road in Ebonyi: A roving reporter’s diary of the renewed hope tour first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

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Yilwatda spoke in Abuja on Wednesday while addressing coordinators of the renewed hope ambassadors during a workshop focused on developing a strategic communication framework for disseminating the achievements of the Tinubu administration.

According to him, the role of the ambassadors has become increasingly important at a time when misinformation spreads rapidly and citizens require accurate information about government policies and programmes.

He said President Tinubu inherited an economy weighed down by structural challenges, including unsustainable fuel subsidy payments, multiple exchange rate windows, declining investor confidence, revenue leakages and a rising debt burden.

Despite the challenges, Yilwatda said the administration opted for bold reforms aimed at long-term economic stability and prosperity.

“President Tinubu chose courage over convenience and made bold reforms aimed at long-term national prosperity over short-term political comfort,” he said.

The APC chairman argued that three years into the administration, the impact of those reforms was becoming visible through stronger macroeconomic indicators, improved fiscal management and growing investor confidence.

He said Nigeria’s foreign reserves had risen to more than $50 billion, while government revenues had increased through improved tax administration, transparency and the removal of fuel subsidies.

Yilwatda also cited increased investments across key sectors of the economy and a trade surplus of N7.55 trillion recorded in the first quarter of 2026 as evidence of improving economic performance.

He highlighted major infrastructure projects being executed by the administration, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, describing them as critical components of a broader economic architecture designed to support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy.

The APC chairman further pointed to investments in education, healthcare and social protection, noting that about 1.5 million students had benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Yilwatda, however, said the achievements would have limited impact if they were not effectively communicated to citizens.

“Policies do not speak for themselves. Projects do not speak for themselves. Statistics do not speak for themselves. People speak,” he said.

He urged the renewed hope ambassadors to translate government policies into language that ordinary Nigerians could understand and relate to, using real-life examples to demonstrate the impact of reforms on communities and individuals.

According to him, the task before party members is not only to prepare for future elections but also to help build confidence in governance and support the administration’s vision of a prosperous and globally competitive Nigeria.

The post Yilwatda to APC members: Tell Nigerians how Tinubu’s reforms are transforming the economy first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Speaking at the national TVET conference 2026 held in Lagos on Monday, the minister said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is implementing reforms aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.

Alausa said the reforms, being implemented under the renewed hope agenda, are designed to transform the education sector into a pipeline for innovators, entrepreneurs, technicians and job creators.

According to the minister, Nigeria faces an urgent need to strengthen workforce development as nearly five million young people enter the labour market every year.

Alausa said the Nigeria education sector renewal initiative (NESRI) is being used to strengthen the national skills qualification framework, improve quality assurance systems and expand access to competency-based training across the country.

He disclosed that more than 150,000 Nigerians are currently enrolled in skills acquisition programmes at over 1,600 accredited training centres nationwide.

The minister added that the programmes are supported by thousands of instructors and quality assurance personnel to ensure training standards and improve participants’ employability.

Alausa said the next phase of the initiative would focus on improving training quality, increasing private-sector participation and aligning skills development programmes with labour market needs.

He noted that emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing would play a major role in shaping future employment opportunities, making sustained investment in skills development critical.

The minister was also honoured with the TVET champion of the year award in recognition of his contributions to technical education reforms and efforts to promote skills development as a catalyst for economic growth.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, represented by Obafemi Hamzat, his deputy, described TVET as a vital tool for job creation, innovation and economic development.

Sanwo-Olu stressed the need to equip young Nigerians with practical, entrepreneurial and digital skills to remain competitive in a global economy increasingly driven by technology and green growth.

He highlighted Lagos state’s investments in technical colleges, industry partnerships and practical training programmes, while calling for stronger collaboration among government agencies, businesses and development organisations to strengthen the country’s skills ecosystem.

Earlier, Abel Enitan, the permanent secretary of the federal ministry of education, reiterated the government’s commitment to placing TVET at the centre of employment generation, social inclusion and sustainable development.

He cited ongoing efforts to upgrade technical colleges, expand competency-based learning and deepen partnerships with industry stakeholders and development partners.

Enitan also urged stakeholders to ensure training programmes reflect labour market realities and commended initiatives such as WorldSkills Nigeria for advancing youth empowerment.

Development partners at the conference praised Nigeria’s progress in implementing TVET reforms.

Switzerland’s Consul General, Conny Cammezind, reaffirmed her country’s support for youth employment and entrepreneurship, while Germany’s Consul General in Nigeria, Daniel Krull, commended the Renewed Hope TVET Initiative and the SKYE II programme.

Krull stressed the importance of industry participation and demand-driven training in achieving sustainable outcomes.

Also speaking, Karen Jansen, chairperson of the TVET Donor and Development Partners Working Group, described the conference as an important platform for promoting employability, inclusion and green growth through stronger policy coordination and the integration of digital and environmentally focused skills.

The three-day conference, themed “Harnessing TVET as a pathway to employment: Building a system for employability, inclusion and green growth in Nigeria,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders and development partners to explore strategies for advancing skills development and supporting Nigeria’s economic transformation.

The post FG expands TVET reforms as 150,000 Nigerians undergo skills training first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Idris said the federal government has also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security in vulnerable communities.

The minister said the safe return of all children and teachers currently in captivity remains a top priority for the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“The president has made it clear that no child belongs in captivity and that no effort will be spared in ensuring that those responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to justice,” Idris said.

“He has directed that every lawful instrument available to the Nigerian state be deployed towards achieving this objective, including the deployment of a specialised rescue team.

“He has also authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security presence across vulnerable communities and forests within the state.”

The minister was speaking against the backdrop of the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo state and a separate attack on a school in Askira-Uba LGA of Borno state, where dozens of children were reported missing.

According to Idris, multiple security and intelligence agencies are working together to secure the release of the victims.

He said the armed forces, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), office of the national security adviser (ONSA), and the National Counter Terrorism Centre are coordinating intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance, community engagement and rescue operations.

The minister said the Tinubu administration has adopted an intelligence-led security strategy that combines military operations, technological deployment, regional cooperation and socio-economic interventions.

He added that the administration is also pursuing a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, including plans for state policing.

“One of the pillars of this overhaul is the determined implementation of state policing,” Idris said.

“President Tinubu is determined to ensure that one of his legacies is the delivery of a restructured policing system that is dynamic, flexible, and fit-for-purpose.”

Highlighting recent security gains, the minister said troops of Operation Hadin Kai had recorded significant successes against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the north-east.

According to him, more than 50 terrorists, including high-value targets, were recently neutralised in operations along the Kirawa-Pulka and Ngoshe axes of Borno state.

He added that approximately 1,000 terrorist elements, including dozens of commanders, were eliminated during the first quarter of 2026.

Idris also referenced a joint Nigeria-United States operation conducted in May which disrupted terrorist logistics networks and eliminated key ISWAP commanders, while 92 civilians were rescued from captivity near Buratai.

In the north-west and north-central regions, he said security agencies had intensified operations against bandits and kidnapping syndicates in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kogi, Niger, Kwara and Kaduna states.

The minister said enhanced maritime security operations in the Niger Delta had contributed to a rise of about 400,000 barrels per day in oil production since Tinubu assumed office.

He also highlighted recent successes in terrorism prosecutions, noting that four terrorists convicted over the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, were recently sentenced to death.

According to him, Nigeria has also recorded 386 convictions from 508 terrorism-related cases prosecuted in one of the country’s largest terrorism trials.

Idris said the government is strengthening security cooperation with international partners, particularly the United States, in intelligence sharing, military training, border security, cybersecurity and counterterrorism operations.

The minister said President Tinubu has maintained close coordination with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state in responding to the recent abductions.

He added that both federal and state authorities are sharing intelligence and mobilising resources to secure the release of the victims.

While urging citizens to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security agencies, Idris warned against narratives that promote division and fear.

“Terrorism has no tribe. Terrorism has no religion. Terrorism has no political affiliation. Its only purpose is destruction,” he said.

The minister also called on media organisations to report responsibly and avoid sensational coverage that could amplify the objectives of terrorist groups.

He assured families of the abducted victims that the government had not abandoned them.

“Every available resource is being deployed. Every security agency remains engaged. Every intelligence lead is being pursued,” Idris said.

“Nigeria has faced difficult moments before and emerged stronger. We shall overcome this challenge as well. We shall defeat terrorism. We shall protect our schools. We shall safeguard our children.”

The post Mohammed Idris: FG deploying specialised rescue team for abducted Ogbomoso, Borno schoolchildren first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

YM&CA serves as a national platform for equipping young Nigerians to respond to climate pressures, pursue safe migration pathways, and build resilient livelihoods.

As a newly established department, it advances the federal government’s renewed hope agenda by placing youth at the centre of green growth, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

The partnership creates a structured framework for institutional strengthening, strategic advisory, capacity development, communication systems enhancement, and partner mobilisation.

STRATCOMM is a development advisory and strategic communication firm that helps governments, donors, and organisations design and deliver programmes that generate measurable social and economic impact.

Through integrated advisory and disciplined project management, STRATCOMM supports institutions in turning policy ambition into fundable programmes and tangible results.

Ahead of the signing, STRATCOMM conducted a skills gap analysis within YM&CA in November 2025.

The assessment confirmed strong commitment and youth engagement experience, while identifying gaps in project design, monitoring and evaluation, research and data systems, renewable energy and green economy frameworks, policy development, and climate–peacebuilding integration.

More than 85 percent of officers expressed readiness for structured professional development.

The partnership will implement targeted capacity-building programmes, strengthen operational systems, improve documentation processes, enhance digital access, and establish a centralised knowledge platform.

These reforms will position the Department to design bankable programmes, mobilise funding, and expand impact across Nigeria.

The collaboration will prioritise the mobilisation of technical and funding partners to advance high-impact initiatives nationwide, including youth-led circular economy programmes, renewable energy and green jobs initiatives, Youth WASH campaigns, climate education networks, climate-smart agronomy, youth peace and security implementation under UN Resolution 2250, safe migration awareness programmes, disaster risk reduction innovation labs, and reintegration support for returnees.

Commenting on the forthcoming partnership, Kayode Olanorin, the managing director of STRATCOMM, said the youth migration and climate action resilience department represents one of the most forward-looking institutional responses to the climate–migration nexus in Nigeria.

According to him, the MoU provides a structured pathway for institutional strengthening, technical excellence, and strategic partner mobilisation that will translate ambition into measurable impact.

The two-year agreement, he added, marks a coordinated national effort to deepen institutional capacity, strengthen partnerships, and position Nigerian youth as leaders in climate resilience and safe migration governance.

The post Youth development ministry, STRATCOMM Consulting to partner on nationwide youth climate, migration programmes first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The foundation-laying ceremony was performed on Tuesday at Jahi, Abuja, by the Executive Secretary of TETFund,  Sonny Echono, alongside the vice-chancellor of the University of Abuja, Hakeem Fawehinmi.

Echono disclosed that TETFund will inaugurate about 467 projects across tertiary institutions nationwide between now and October.

He described leadership as one of the most critical drivers of national development, noting that countries progress based on the quality of leadership they produce.

According to him, effective leadership requires the coordinated use of intellectual, human and material resources to achieve national development goals.

“It is my prayer and hope that this centre will become a stopping point for every leader visiting our country. It is not by accident that it is located in the nation’s capital,” he said.

Echono said the Abuja Leadership Centre is expected to evolve into a world-class facility capable of producing leaders for all sectors of the economy, while also hosting major global speeches, conventions and declarations.

He charged the contractors to deliver a facility of international standard, assuring that TETFund would provide funds not only for construction but also for high-quality furniture and equipment.

The TETFund boss explained that the centre is envisioned as more than a conference hall, but a global-standard leadership facility where visiting heads of state and their delegations would feel at home.

He also commended the leadership of the University of Abuja for the stability and direction recorded under the current administration, pledging continued collaboration to realise the institution’s vision.

On the nationwide commissioning exercise, Echono said the agency would select at least 50 iconic projects across the states of the federation, with a minimum of two to three projects in each state, since it would be impracticable to commission all projects directly.

He said the projects would highlight the impact of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on the transformation of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector and invited members of the media to participate in the nationwide exercises.

“Between now and October, we have about 467 projects to commission across Nigerian tertiary institutions,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Fawehinmi, described the groundbreaking ceremony as a major milestone in the institution’s partnership with TETFund.

He said the Abuja Leadership Centre would serve as a national hub for training future leaders in public governance and leadership, with a focus on policy formulation and national development.

Fawehinmi commended Echono’s leadership of TETFund, noting that the agency has significantly transformed tertiary education through infrastructure development, staff training, libraries and other key facilities.
He expressed confidence that TETFund would ensure the timely completion and proper furnishing of the centre, adding that the university would put the facility to effective use.

The vice-chancellor described the project as a historic intervention that would be remembered for years to come.

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