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Southeast: Nigerian Government Moves to Remove 60-Metre Mountain

by admin on | 2026-08-17 17:51:54

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By Ahmad Sirajo Makama

The Federal Government has said efforts are underway to remove a 60-metre-high mountain on a section of the Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Federal Highway currently under construction.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this at the weekend during an inspection tour of the 65-kilometre Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Federal Highway project.

Umahi disclosed that the project is being executed under the Federal Government’s tax-credit scheme and sponsored by Dangote Industries Ltd, with Hi-Tech Construction as the contractor.

According to the minister, “the mountainous terrain of this part of the road had constituted a major safety challenge for road users and was responsible for several fatal accidents along the corridor.

“This mountain, by the command of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must collapse for the people of the Southeast.”

Umahi observed that the area is one of the most technically demanding portions of the project, noting that its successful removal would represent a major infrastructure breakthrough, as it would reduce the frequent loss of lives on the route.

Continuing, he said, “This place is very challenging. We have a mountain that is over 60 metres high. If God helps us in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to achieve this, this will be a major lifesaver for the people of South-East, because this place has consumed many lives.

The minister commended the contractor for the quality of construction, pointing out that the concrete pavement being used for the project was superior to what was obtainable on some other Federal Government highway projects.

He maintained that the intervention of President Tinubu’s administration in the Southeast should be assessed from the standpoint of tangible infrastructure delivery and economic impact, rather than political sentiments.

The Project Controller, Maxwell Oko, had earlier said the Highway F112 project comprised 9.9 kilometres of dual carriageway and 55.55 kilometres of single carriageway.

Oko explained that the road was being delivered under the tax-credit arrangement, with Dangote Industries Ltd as the sponsoring company, while Hi-Tech Construction is the contractor.

He also said the highway constitutes a major route linking communities and adjoining federal highways across Ebonyi, Abia and Imo states, with significant implications for transportation, trade and regional integration.

The Managing Director of Hi-Tech Construction, Christopher Aucamp, said the contractor had commenced preparatory operations at the mountainous section of the project, in readiness for intensive excavation and earthworks.

“This is the mountain where we have to do the realisation of the 9. kilometres. As you can see, we are busy on it,” he said.

Aucamp disclosed that three excavators would be deployed to the section to accelerate the excavation and reshaping of the difficult terrain.