The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, announced that the first phase of the Lagos-Calabar super highway is expected to be ready for commissioning by May 2025. The announcement was made during a meeting with contractors at the Ministry's headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja. Commending the project's contractor for their high-quality work, Umahi also revealed that the Federal Government has disbursed N10 billion as compensation to communities and individuals affected by the road corridor construction.
Umahi stated:
"The ministry is striving to eliminate price variations. In the states, there is no concept of price variation, but it is common in the Ministry of Works. The concrete and asphalt we provided are based on an exchange rate of N1,700 per US dollar, with no variation allowed. Even the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project has been adjusted to six lanes without stopping the project. It is progressing smoothly, and the first phase is set to be commissioned by May 2025. This demonstrates our commitment. So far, over 4 kilometers of concrete road have been completed. We rerouted to protect the community and existing cables, and we have paid nearly N10 billion in compensation."
Umahi further noted that over 90 percent of new projects in the 2024 budget are National Assembly constituency projects, which have received minimal funding. He described the budget as a "palliative budget" but emphasized its importance in addressing weak links in infrastructure.
"The budget is crucial because a road is only as strong as its weakest link. If a beautiful road is broken by a flood, emergency project funding becomes essential. We have 330 emergency projects, with over 80 percent completed, including some bridges," he explained.
Additionally, Umahi mentioned that the Federal Executive Council has decided to prioritize projects with significant impact on a larger number of Nigerians, stepping down those without adequate funding.
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