President Bola Tinubu on Sunday flagged off the 700km Lagos – Calabar coastal highway.
In his speech, the president said: “It’s my bragging day. We will do this road. We are determined to do it.”
The road project, estimated to cost about N15 trillion, was awarded to Hi-Tech Construction Limited.
In March, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a contract worth N1.067 trillion for the construction of the first phase of the highway.
Many political figures like the 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Funso Doherty, among others have criticized the government over the project.
But the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, while announcing the commencement of work at a recent engagement with representatives of communities within the alignment of the road between Eko Atlantic and Eleko inside, said that the federal government planned to recoup construction costs through tolling and selling land along the road corridors.
“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.”
The road will connect nine states, with two spurs leading up north
