The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, on Thursday, called on Nigerians to ignore the remark by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was wasteful and corrupt.
The Minister who slammed the former President for criticising the project, asked those criticising the project and other legacy projects of President Bola Tinubu not to pass through the roads when they are completed.
Umahi who stated this in Akure, Ondo state capital, during the unveiling of the 71km alignment section of the coastal road, insisted that the project was not wasteful and corrupt, saying the project was transparent.
According to him, the project was initiated to develop the nation’s economy, saying those criticising the project have right to be jealous and angry, but maintained that the project was not wasteful.
Umahi said “This Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the four legacy projects of Mr. President. For those saying it is a waste of resources when the project is completed, they should not use the road.
“This is not a wasteful project and it is not fraudulent. If someone is saying it’s a fraud, that person is also saying that I am a fraud and I am definitely not.
“This project has been very transparent, and that is why we continue to engage the stakeholders. Every step of the process has been very transparent and every detail is in the public domain.
Speaking on the criticism, Umahi said “The man by his age deserves our respect but it’s my duty as the minister of works that the project is not wasteful and the project is not corrupt.
“I read in the social media where they said why is it me that’s explaining and why are the contractors not explaining? What should the contractor say?
“It is my duty to explain and I’m eminently qualified by reason of my years in public service and training as a fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers to explain the project.
“I think anybody still criticising the project is waking up to say how can one man be attributed to this kind of legacy especially if you have the opportunity to do something to contribute to this kind of investment and you didn’t do that.
“The truth remains the section one of the Lagos-Calabar, that job is already done about 70 per cent within one year, and I will be asking those criticising it not to follow the road”
He said dualization of the Ilesha-Akure-Benin Highway was stalled by funding but assured that the contractor was bound to make the road motorable.
The Minister commended the government and people of the State for the support given to the project, adding that all the necessary steps to its execution have been taken.
Umahi also commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his keen interest in the infrastructural development of the State, promising that all Federal road projects in the State would be given speedy execution.
The Minister also promised that the federal government will soon shift its focus to the execution of the Aiyetoro shoreline protection project.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, while speaking, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the successful completion of federal road projects in the state, emphasizing the crucial role of infrastructure in driving economic growth and development.
Aiyedatiwa commended President Tinubu on the increase in federal presence in Ondo State through many infrastructural projects, including the ongoing Ore-Ondo-Akure dualisation project, the federal teaching hospital and new aviation school, among others.
He said: “We have not had it so good in recent times with federal projects in our State. Permit me to mention but a few: the Akure – Ore Dual Carriageway, the Akure – Ado Ekiti Dual Carriageway, the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, and the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure”.
He further stressed the importance of completing these projects, noting their potential to boost economic activities in the State and the South-West region. He also appealed for additional federal support to actualize critical projects such as the Ondo Deep Sea Port and the mitigation of the Ayetoro Sea incursion.
The governor assured the Minister of Works that the Ondo State Government would provide an enabling environment for the successful execution of these projects.
“We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that these projects are completed for the benefit of our people. In this regard, I pledge the Ondo State Government’s unflinching support and commitment towards actualizing their completion,” he stated.
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