By CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has directed the alignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to the existing East-West Road in parts of the Niger Delta area.
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, who stated this on Thursday while addressing journalists in Abuja, described the decision as a strategic engineering intervention that would address the increasing impact of flooding and climate change on the vital infrastructure.
The critical sections of the East-West Road would be upgraded to accommodate present and anticipated flood levels at the strategic route.
Umahi harped on the importance of the construction of the Benin City Bypass and other sections of the littoral corridor in reducing congestion and improving movement across the South-South zone.
On the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, the Minister noted that the project was designed to establish a major economic corridor linking Ilelah in Sokoto State with Badagry in Lagos State.
He stated that various sections of the highway were at different stages of construction, with significant progress recorded across the Sokoto, Kebbi, Oyo, Ogun and Badagry axis, while those sited in Niger and Kwara States will commence soon.
Umahi stated that the strategic importance of the project is beyond road construction, assuring that the corridor would unlock agricultural, industrial, tourism and other economic opportunities.
The Federal Government is exploring opportunities for complementary investments, including agriculture, housing, tourism and other economic activities along the major infrastructure corridors.
On the third legacy project, the ancient Trans-Saharan route, Umahi explained that it was designed to strengthen connectivity between the coastal axis and the northern parts of the country, thereby facilitating the movement of people, goods and services across the South-South, South East and North Central geopolitical zones.
He disclosed that substantial progress had been recorded on the initial sections, while additional sections had been approved to make the corridor more economically viable and attractive to potential financiers.
The Minister said that the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri single carriageway, which is the fourth legacy project, is currently expanded as a major northern connectivity route.
He explained that the scope of the project was increased to cover an additional spur from Jos to Ibi in Taraba State, with design and procurement processes ongoing.
The Minister listed several major road and bridge projects completed or ready for commissioning across the country as Section I of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Kwanar Danja-Hadejia Road, Kaduna-Pambeguwa Road, Lafia Bypass, Bodo-Bonny Road with Bridges along the Opobo Channel, among many others.
This is in addition to the completed first lot of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Gombe-Potiskum rehabilitation project, sections of the Azare road linking Jigawa and Bauchi, five-span Ampoha Bridge, 23-kilometre, 23-span flyover project at Ekpoma-Benin axis, and a three-span, 75-metre dualised bridge structure.
Umahi disclosed that several sections of the Lagos-Badagry and Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos-Shagamu-Ore corridors had been completed, while other sections were at advanced stages of completion.
He assured journalists that the ministry is updating its compendium of completed and ongoing projects, to be published on the ministry’s website and circulated to the public.
Umahi reiterated the Federal Ministry of Works' increasing adoption of concrete pavement on major highways, saying that greater durability and reduced maintenance costs is driving the policy.
The ministry is developing infrastructure that would serve Nigerians for several decades and provide better value for public resources.
Umahi stated that concrete pavement provides longer durability, when properly designed and constructed, compared with the recurring maintenance challenges associated with conventional asphalt pavement.
Addressing questions on the procurement process for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, he explained that the ministry followed an applicable procurement framework.
He informed that the special procurement approach was necessitated by the unique engineering requirements of constructing a major highway through a difficult coastal terrain.
Umahi pointed out that the ministry identified the need for a contractor with a proven track record in executing similar coastal infrastructure and subsequently sent the recommendation to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
He disclosed that the BPP reviewed the recommendation and gave its clearance, while the Federal Executive Council (FEC) remained the final approving authority.
Umahi said that the Ministry subjected the contractor's bid to scrutiny by comparing proposed rates with prevailing market prices for materials and other inputs, saying that both indigenous and expatriate contractors were subjected to the same pricing and evaluation principles.
"We put everybody on the same platform. We sent the proposals to the BPP, they reviewed it and where they felt that the rates went beyond their expected maxima, they called our attention to it, and we reviewed the rates accordingly," he explained.
The Minister disclosed that substantial progress had been recorded on the outstanding Sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, with all the sections completed except the Jere-Kaduna portion advancing steadily.
He revealed that the ministry is installing solar-powered lighting along the 375-kilometre Expressway to improve night visibility, thereby enhancing safety and security.
Umahi informed that the improved condition of the highway, alongside security interventions, was contributing to safer and more efficient movement along the corridor.
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