A major transportation artery is one step closer to completion, as the Federal Government announces the start of construction on the final phases of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, beginning in Calabar.
On Thursday in Lagos, Senator Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, addressed community representatives from the Eko Atlantic to Eleko stretch, revealing the government’s plans for the road project, spanning from Chainage Zero to 47.4 kilometers.
According to the Minister, the third section of the project will commence in Calabar, while the fourth section will take off from Akwa Ibom, marking significant milestones in the highway’s development.
Umahi said, “Let me announce also that Mr President has directed that section three that is starting from Calabar and section four that is starting from Akwa Ibom should commence immediately; and so, we are in the process of concluding the procurement.
“And for those who have been saying why not start these roads in Calabar, one, the zero point is Lagos and what wrong has Lagos done to these people?
“However, an impartial President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has directed that section three and four be started from the end of the project. So while this is moving, the other one will be moving.
“I’m sure that sections five and six will also start in places like Port Harcourt and Bayelsa.”
Minister Umahi announced that the President has approved the commencement of construction on the Sokoto-Badagry road, a critical infrastructure project poised to transform the nation’s transportation sphere.
He said: ” Just the last Federal Executive Committee meeting on Monday, Mr President also approved another project; because this road have two spurs , that we start the design and procurement of that Sokoto to Badagry.
”It’s a 1,000 km, its running through a lot of irrigation, lands and dams where you can have a lot of power generation and its running from Sokoto to Kebbi, Kebbi to Niger, Niger to kwara, Kwara to Oyo, Oyo to Ogun state, and then to Badagry in Lagos State.”
Anticipating potential criticism, the Minister addressed concerns about the project’s magnitude and selected routes, emphasizing that the inaugural 47.7-kilometer section, while bold for an interstate road initiative, paves the way for a groundbreaking transportation upgrade.
Read also: Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, A ‘Highway To Fraud’ — Atiku
He said that the federal government’s plan was to recoup construction costs through tolling and selling land along the road corridors.
The aim, according to him, is to create a scenic route similar to coastal highways in other countries.
Additionally, he said that the return on investment would start immediately the first section was completed and would come from tolls and land sales along the completed section one.
According to the Minister, the nation incurs significant financial losses on a daily basis due to the cumbersome cargo transshipment processes at Apapa Port, underscoring the need for efficient infrastructure upgrades.
According to the Minister, Apapa Port’s limited water depth poses a significant constraint, forcing massive ships to seek transshipment options at rival ports with adequate depth, incurring substantial daily expenses totaling millions of dollars.
Minister Umahi revealed that the new roads will play a crucial role in facilitating the swift evacuation of goods from the Lekki Deep Sea Port to diverse destinations across the country, thereby bolstering the port’s operational efficiency and economic impact.