By Dr Jeff Ejiofor,
There was a time when driving through Enugu felt like negotiating history itself, narrow colonial roads, tight intersections, and endless traffic snarls that tested patience and productivity.
For decades, residents of the Coal City accepted congestion as a stubborn companion, especially in ever-busy corridors like Abakpa and the Eke Obinagu axis, where gridlocks seemed permanent fixtures of daily life.
Today, that narrative is steadily changing under the leadership of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
His urban road infrastructural drive is not just a construction agenda; it is a deliberate rewriting of Enugu’s traffic story across the city as the rhythmic hum of construction equipment signals transformation.
The dualisation of several strategic roads stands as visible milestones of a government determined to restore order, dignity, and efficiency to urban mobility.
In Abakpa and along the Eke Obinagu axis, areas once synonymous with crunching traffic gridlock hope are no longer abstract.
Wider carriageways are emerging across routes that previously forced vehicles into frustrating bottlenecks.
Though construction is still ongoing in parts, the direction is unmistakable. When these projects are fully completed, the crippling congestion that once defined these corridors will become history.
The same forward-thinking urban planning is gradually redefining Enugu’s entire traffic profile, practically transforming a city once known for its narrow colonial streets into a modern metropolis with wider, traffic-friendly roads, built for efficiency and growth, making what used to take hours to take minutes.
Commercial drivers will breathe easier. Traders will meet customers on time. Workers will return home earlier to their families. The promise of free-flowing traffic is steadily moving from expectation to reality.
The ongoing dualisation of the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway, executed in collaboration with the Federal Government, is indeed a bold stride.
This vital inter-state artery connects Enugu to Ebonyi and beyond.
Expanding it means more than easing vehicular pressure; it means strengthening economic ties across state lines, boosting commerce, and positioning Enugu as a strategic hub within the South East corridor.
Equally significant is the dualisation of the Enugu–Nsukka route, a lifeline linking the state capital to northern gateways and Abuja.
These critical inter and intra state connectors are not merely roads; they are economic veins.
Their expansion ensures smoother transportation of goods, reduces travel time, lowers logistics costs, and enhances the competitiveness of businesses operating in Enugu State and the wider South East region.
Perhaps the most symbolic of these interventions is the construction of a gigantic flyover at the Eke Obinagu axis, the first of its kind in Enugu’s history.
It is a well-known fact that for years, Eke Obinagu represented a perennial traffic crisis point, where frustration simmered daily. With construction progressing steadily, there is growing confidence that, upon completion, the stubborn congestion that once defined that axis will fade into memory.
The flyover stands not just as concrete and steel but as a monument to decisive governance and a practical solution to a long-standing urban nightmare.
Governor Mbah’s vision goes beyond simply expanding major highways. His administration understands that a city’s true character is reflected in its suburbs.
Places such as Abakpa, Emene, Coal Camp, Achara Layout, Gariki, and Idaw-River long forgotten by previous regimes are wearing new looks. Roads abandoned for over five decades are being resurfaced and restored. Entire neighbourhoods once defined by potholes and neglect now echo with the promise of renewal.
Highbrow districts such as Independence Layout, New Haven, Trans Ekulu, and GRA are not left out. Their internal roads have received unprecedented attention, enhancing aesthetics, property values, and overall urban appeal.
Even Thinker’s Corner, one of Enugu’s fastest-growing settlements known for its modern architectural designs, is being factored into the resurfacing revolution, a move that will further amplify the city’s beauty and cohesion.
What makes this infrastructural revolution remarkable is its long-term economic implication. Good roads are silent economic multipliers.
They attract investors who seek efficiency, predictability, and accessibility. They reduce operational costs for industries, encourage tourism, enhance real estate development, and inspire confidence.
Governor Peter Mbah is not merely constructing roads; he is constructing the future. He is repositioning Enugu as the pride of the East, an emerging mega city east of the Niger.
A city that blends heritage with modernity. A city where movement fuels growth. A city preparing itself to become a tourist hub of unimaginable status.
Indeed, as these milestones rise from blueprint to reality, one truth becomes undeniable: under this administration, Tomorrow is Here.
