Nigerian Government to Excavate Mountain for Highway Safety

The Nigerian Government is advancing the Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Federal Highway project by planning to remove a 60-metre-high mountain along a critical section of the road. Minister of Works, David Umahi, revealed this during an inspection of the 65-kilometre highway, which is being executed under the Federal Government’s tax-credit scheme, with funding from Dangote Industries Limited and construction by Hi-Tech Construction.

Umahi noted that the mountainous area has been a significant safety concern, linked to numerous fatal accidents. He described this section as one of the most technically challenging parts of the project, emphasizing that its removal would greatly improve road safety.

Project Controller Maxwell Oko detailed that the highway consists of 9.9 kilometres of dual carriageway and 55.55 kilometres of single carriageway, serving as a vital transport corridor for the region. Hi-Tech Construction's Managing Director, Christopher Aucamp, confirmed that preparatory work has begun, with three excavators set to expedite the excavation and reshaping of the terrain.