NDI-ABAT credits Tinubu for rebuilding civil war-destroyed bridge after 58 years
By David Eze
The Abia State chapter of the NdIgbo for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2027 Forum (NDI-ABAT) has credited President Bola Tinubu for the reconstruction of the historic Umuwanwa Bridge in Abia State, describing the project as a significant intervention coming 58 years after the structure was destroyed during the Nigerian Civil War.
The group said the bridge project, alongside ongoing federal road works across the Southeast, demonstrates the administration’s commitment to addressing infrastructure deficits and promoting inclusive national development.
The position was contained in resolutions adopted on Sunday at the forum’s State Executive Committee meeting in Umuahia and signed by the State Chairman, Hon. Nwaogazi Young Nwankwo; the State Secretary, Chief Anayo Chukwu; and the State Public Relations Officer, Hon. Ndubuisi Kalu Anya.
NDI-ABAT acknowledged ongoing Federal Government interventions on critical road infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of the Aba-Port Harcourt axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and other strategic projects across the region.
However, it singled out the reconstruction of the Umuwanwa Ancient Bridge as a project of historic importance, noting that the bridge had remained unreconstructed since its destruction in 1967 during the civil war.
“Of historic significance, the Forum acknowledges the Federal Government’s approval for the reconstruction of the Umuwanwa Ancient Bridge, destroyed during the Nigerian Civil War in 1967 and left unattended for over five decades,” the communiqué stated.
The forum also credited the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Nweze Umahi, for driving key infrastructure projects nationwide, particularly within the Southeast corridor.
Beyond infrastructure, the group urged eligible citizens, especially newly registered voters, to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the democratic process.
On the 2027 governorship election in Abia State, NDI-ABAT clarified that it had not endorsed any aspirant, stressing that any future endorsement would be guided by directives from its national leadership and recognised political structures in the Southeast.
The group also announced plans for the 2026 Asiwaju Summit, scheduled to be held in Enugu in July next year. According to the forum, the summit will provide a platform to showcase documented projects executed by the Tinubu administration across the Southeast and deepen policy engagement in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the National Coordination Office, the National Treasurer, Prince Uzoma Amaechi, said the summit would promote accountability, policy awareness and political integration.
The meeting ended with a call on Ndi Igbo to engage strategically in future elections to strengthen the region’s political influence and enhance its access to federal development opportunities.
