Minister of Works David Umahi has assured Nigerians that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project will continue as planned, despite an ongoing court case contesting its execution.
This ambitious 700-kilometer highway will connect Victoria Island in Lagos to Calabar in Cross River State, traversing multiple states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.
The highway is anticipated to significantly enhance infrastructure, improve connectivity, and stimulate economic activity across Nigeria’s coastal region.
During a press briefing in Abuja, Umahi reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the project and confirmed that all necessary legal and procedural requirements have been fulfilled.
“We are paying compensation, adhering to the corridor right of way, and following the legally permitted corridor for the federal government,” Umahi stated, countering claims that the project lacked proper authorization.
He further expressed uncertainty regarding the basis of the pending court case, saying, “We don’t know what they are taking to court.”
Addressing procurement concerns, Umahi highlighted that the project received approval from the Federal Executive Council under the Restrictive Procurement Act.
“I have a procurement expert as my permanent secretary, and we have a competent public procurement department. The project was approved under restrictive procurement,” he clarified.
Defending the project’s cost and scale, Umahi dismissed comparisons to international projects as misguided, stating, “I calculated the project cost at 4 billion naira per kilometer. Yet, there are claims that similar projects elsewhere are significantly cheaper without understanding the full context.”
He assured stakeholders that all environmental and social impact assessments have been completed, confirming that the project is included in the 2023 supplementary appropriation.
“We have EIA certificates for the project, and it is listed in the 2023 supplementary appropriation,” he affirmatively stated.
Umahi cautioned against attempts to derail the project through legal challenges, indicating that those seeking to unduly benefit from court actions are wasting their time.
“I’ve faced many challenges as a former governor. I am not intimidated by opposition,” he concluded.
