FG To Review Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The Federal Government has stated its readiness to review the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to accommodate landmark features that would increase the economic potentials. 

Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi stated this on Friday in Lagos during the inspection of Sections I and II of the project handled by Hitech Construction Company Limited. 

He commended the progress and quality of work at the Coastal highway project, describing it as a signature of excellence and innovation on road infrastructure development by the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Umahi said: "We will plant trees and of course, we are going to also have some lay bay. We can decide that in every five kilometers, we will have a lay bay where we will connect all our CCTV cameras. And then, we will have vehicles and security within the cabin so that response time will be like 10 minutes. 

"I am sure that you've witnessed what we did at Third Mainland Bridge. That's what we intend to replicate in all our highways. The entire stretch of 750 kilometers to Calabar will be under CCTV, powered by solar.

"In every five kilometers or 10 or 15, as we may agree, we will have portal cabin where we have security posts, no blocking of the roads, there will be a viewing centre, and then you view the entire stretch left and right. We will agree on the number of kilometers, depending on the capacity of the cameras."

On the imperative of the contract review, he stated that: "The service lane and CCTV camera were never envisaged. There was no single item of work, like we're having in all the projects from the removal of topsoil, not to talk of the removal of debris."

The minister praised President Tinubu's vision of initiating legacy projects that would connect the critical economic corridors and boost transportation ecosystem in the six geopolitical zones. 

He informed that the four Renewed Hope legacy projects and the inherited ongoing projects were on course, while milestone project execution was adopted to ensure a sense of equality among the geopolitical zones. 

Umahi said that some of the sections of the projects executed nationwide, including the inherited ongoing projects, will be ready for commissioning  by May 2025.  

"Work is progressing on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. We have the Sokoto- Badagry Superhighway. Work is seriously in progress on the project. 

"The first 120 kilometres work is ongoing in Sokoto. It has been procured. Hitech is using concrete to construct the project. Then, you have the Kebbi section which is 250 kilometers. Work is also going on there. But we believe strongly that we will be able to have about 20 kilometers in both sections to commission by May 29, 2025. 

"In section one of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in the South West, we are very sure that we will commission the first 20 kilometers and 10 kilometres in section two," he added.  

Umahi commended the President for providing funds for the projects despite his interventions in other critical sectors of the economy. 

"The President has given very serious attention to road infrastructure. Don't forget that this Coastal Highway and the four Legacy Projects all have the train track incorporated. 

"The construction of the train track for section I is going to take off in 2025. We believe strongly that the President will give Nigeria the road infrastructure that they have been yearning for," he said. 

Federal Controller of Works, Engr. Olukorede Kashia recounted his experiences at the commencement of the project  but expressed confidence in timely delivery of the project by the contractor. 

"We encountered many issues which were not foreseen because they were really covered. Like I said earlier, when you're doing a preliminary design, you cannot do a borehole at every meter. So when you do, at one meter, you do another one at 20 meters. 

"In the process of executing the project, we encountered a lot of refuse dumps. It was like this place was like Olushosun, where they dump dirt to the magnitude of about five meters depth in some places. And then, the contractor removed it and replaced it with good soil. That's sand filling from the ocean as you can see; good sand filling, and then we had to wait a little," he said.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji on Saturday in Abuja.