. slashes lanes from ten to six to reduce cost
· current administration inherited over 2,600 projects valued at N15 trillion
. the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be completed in May 2025 – min of works
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, recently disclosed that the first phase of on-going work on the Lagos-Calabar Highway will be ready for commissioning by May 2025. This he announced recently at a meeting with contractors at the ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja. He dispelled the rumours that work had stopped at the project site.
He said “Some people have been writing that we have stopped the project. No project is stopped. As we are talking now, over four kilometres of concrete road has been completed on six lanes.
“We had to establish a new path due to complaints made by MTN on its subsea cable and Okuaja community, we had to reroute not to the new alignment, not to the gazetted alignment but far away from the two, and we came back to a new alignment at kilometre 25.
“So the work is going and it’s moving smoothly. We have paid the total compensation of close to N10bn. we are not owing and the contractor is highly commended for a very beautiful job, commitment and being very reasonable.”
Speaking further at the meeting, the minister bemoaned the challenge of funding, noting that the government inherited over 2,600 projects valued at N15tn. He also said that aside from the inherited projects, the government initiated 330 emergency projects totaling N260bn 80% of which are completed.
The Minister emphasised the government’s prioritization of projects that will have the most significant positive impact on the lives of Nigerians. The Federal Executive Council has agreed to step down projects without funding in favor of those with greater potential to benefit more people, noting that most of the road projects being executed by this administration are investments in which Nigerians will enjoy a return on investment.
