FG hasn’t abandoned Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway – Umahi

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed speculation that the Federal Government has abandoned the celebrated Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

Speaking with journalists on Monday at the State House, the Works Minister clarified that what is pending approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is the addition of the 400km East-West road, starting from Edo State, to the ongoing project.

He maintained that the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is on course.

He said:” The Lagos Calabar Coast Highway is moving and moving even faster than envisaged. Don’t forget that Section 147.47 kilometer is being fully constructed in Lagos, and Section Two, which is 55 kilometer by two, will be ready by the middle of November, and the Section 3A and 3B, which is 70, you know, five kilometer, ongoing, and we’ve done over, you know, 40 percent, you know, in Cross River and Akwa- Ibom.

“That’s part of the Niger Delta, and 4A and 4B, which is Ogun section, which is 65 kilometer, also ongoing between Ogun State and also Ondo State.”

“The president directed that we start, you know, all the four legacy projects from beginning and from the end. So at the end of the project, which is Calabar, you know, over 40% of the project has been done, and then section five is 62.5 kilometer, which is Akwa- Ibom
and that’s the end of the Akwa Ibom section, which you know is ongoing, and we’ve done over 20% “

Shedding light on the additional 400km East-West road, Senator Umahi said the additional project, which enjoyed the blessing of President Tinubu, was, however, awaiting FEC approval.

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“So, what we have done is to also seek for the approval of Mr. President to also add, you know, the 400 kilometer of you know east west road, starting from Edo State, you know down to in Akwa Ibom, and also to Cross River. Don’t forget that we have procured the Lagos Calabar Coast Highway on the axis of Calabar and also the axis of Akwa Ibom but this east- west route still goes beyond you know where we have procured. So it is for the entire integration of the 400 kilometer of East West Road, which was constructed below the flood level, and you are aware that about three weeks back, that some sections at
Agbarho in Delta State, they were cut into a number of places, and thank God that the governor of Delta State came, you know, to the rescue. “

Assuring the people of the Niger Delta that the project would not be abandoned, the Works Minister gave a breakdown of the update in each state in the region.

“ Nobody has you know abandoned the 750 kilometer Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway. In fact, as we are talking now, we have designers. We have you know surveyors. We are surveying the axis of Edo State. We are surveying the axis of Delta State. We are surveying the axis of Bayelsa, and then Rivers. And that will be, you know, the end of the Lagos- Calabar Highway. So they are all fully, you know, aligned, and they are working. But that is the beauty of what the president, you know, has done, which is also what he did. “