Fact-checking Claims About Ex-President Buhari’s Projects in Southern Nigeria
On July 15, 2025, an X user @Gozionc said that former President Muhammadu Buhari demonstrated unmatched love for the Igbo people (Ndigbo). He noted that this was done through several completed infrastructure and welfare projects. The post had a picture of late President Muhammadu Buhari dressed in a Igbo attire with a caption, “Built the Second Niger Bridge from scratch to finish. Competed the abandoned Nnamdi Azikiwe Masuelem in Anambra. Paid of all owed pensions and gratuities of Biafran soldiers. Built a Power Plant in Abia. Renovated the Akanu Ibam Airport in Enugu. Began the construction of Awka/Enugu/Onitsha double lane expressway. Buhari's Love for Ndigbo was unmatched 💔We will miss him so bad 💔”
The post had reached over 100,000 people at the time of this publication. On the comments section, @Nathanieliorts wrote “The road from Abuja to Makurdi is excellent now, Buhari did it, Great road from Oweto to Otukpo, David Mark local government, Buhari did it, @MBuhari thank you sir, Rest in Peace 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️” and @Buchimullar3 said “With His money or Nigeria money ? Y!all too Dumb for Christ sake , he didn’t do Nigerians Favors”.
VERIFICATIONS
CLAIM 1: Buhari Built the Second Niger Bridge from scratch to finish
VERIFICATION
The 1.6km bridge in Onitsha, accompanied by a 13.3km highway and a toll station across the River Niger, was initially proposed in 1958. The project was revived and launched by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2014.
The second Niger bridge was officially flagged off in March 2014 during President Goodluck Jonathan tenure with preliminary works such as site clearing, dredging, and the construction of a 3km access road initiated during his tenure with over 10 billion naira spent on it.
However, Buhari's government provided major funding and oversight through the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA. The project was subsequently completed, commissioned for public use, and renamed in honor of President Muhammadu Buhari by the late president himself in May 2023.
VERDICT
The claim that late president Muhammadu Buhari built the Second Niger bridge from scratch to finish is MISLEADING.
CLAIM 2: Buhari Completed The Abandoned Nnamdi Azikiwe Masuelem In Anambra
VERIFICATION
The Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum is a project targeted at honouring the first Premier of Eastern Nigeria and founder of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN. The project is in recognition of his immense contributions to national development and the country’s independence. It was initiated by the federal government in 1996, and was awarded to contractors by the late Sani Abacha regime.
In 2018, the Buhari administration formally oversaw the completion of the mausoleum. The then Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola inspected and declared the project complete.
In January 2019, the late President Muhammadu Buhari alongside Fashola and Chris Ngige and Fashola, both ministers at the time, officially commissioned the mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State.
VERDICT
The claim that Buhari completed the abandoned Nnamdi Azikiwe Masuelem in Anambra is TRUE.
CLAIM 3: Buhari Paid All Pensions And Gratuities Owed to Biafran Soldiers.
VERIFICATION
In October 2017, President Buhari approved the payment of pensions and death‑benefits to 162 ex‑Biafran police officers and 57 next of kin in October 2017. The first batch of the payment commenced in Enugu on October 20, 2017.
VERDICT
The claim that Buhari paid all pensions and gratuities owed to Biafran soldiers is TRUE.
CLAIM 4: Buhari Built A Power Plant In Abia State
VERIFICATION
In January 2019, President Buhari commissioned a 9.5 MW gas-fired power project at Ariaria International Market in Aba. The project was built under the federal government’s Energising Economies Initiative (EEI) via the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
It was financed and constructed by a private consortium named Ariaria Market Energy Solutions Ltd, AMES, with the intent to supply electricity to up to 47,000 shops and small businesses operating at the Ariaria International Market.
VERDICT
The claim that the Buhari Administration built a power plant in Abia State is TRUE. President Buhari’s administration facilitated the Ariaria Independent Power Plant in Abia State through a federal government program (Energizing Economies Initiative).
CLAIM 5: Buhari Renovated The Akanu Ibam Airport In Enugu
VERIFICATION
During his tenure, President Muhammadu Buhari approved 10 billion naira for the rehabilitation and extension of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport runway in Enugu State in August 2019.
The airport was closed on August 24, 2019, for the runway overhaul, which took approximately 370 days to complete. It was officially reopened in August 2020, and domestic and international flight operations resumed by September of the same year.
VERDICT
The claim that Buhari renovated the Akanu Ibam Airport in Enugu State is TRUE.
CLAIM 6: Buhari Began The Construction of Awka/Enugu/Onitsha Double Lane Expressway
VERIFICATION
In 2019, MTN Nigeria announced its intention to reconstruct the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, under President Buhari’s Executive Order 7 (the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme).
The Federal Executive Council under President Buhari approved MTN Nigeria to take over and complete the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway dual carriageway project in October 2022.
Buhari’s administration officially set the policy framework allowing such Public–Private Partnerships, PPP, to drive infrastructure delivery. The construction of the road by MTN (via contractor RCC Ltd.) began following the 2022 approval. A March 2025 news report described the road project 50–70 complete, with the Federal Ministry of Works targeting May 10, 2026 for full delivery.
VERDICT
The claim that Buhari began the construction of Awka/Enugu/Onitsha double lane expressway is MISLEADING.
CONCLUSION
While claims like the completion of the abandoned Nnamdi Azikiwe Masuelem in Anambra, paid all owed pension and gratuities of Biafran soldiers, built a power plant in Abia State, and airport rehabilitation are TRUE. The claims that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration built the second Nigeria bridge from scratch to finish, and began the construction of Awka/Enugu/Onitsha double lane expressway are MISLEADING.
