Umahi to Duke over Coastal Highway: We have advanced beyond Epe

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has refuted claims by former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway may not extend beyond Epe, saying the landmark construction has already progressed beyond the area and is advancing simultaneously across five states.

Umahi spoke during an inspection of Section 4B of the highway in Ondo State, according to a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze.

He said, “The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is already on. We have sailed past Lagos that my brother Donald Duke talked about.

“We are on in Ogun — 28 kilometres of dual carriageway. We are on in Ondo — 52 kilometres of dual carriageway. We are also on in Calabar — 27 kilometres.

“In Akwa Ibom, the first section is about 47 kilometres. Those ones are over 60 per cent done.”

Umahi added that construction had also commenced on the longest stretch of the project, a 180-kilometre dual carriageway section in Akwa Ibom State.

The minister described the coastal highway as one of the flagship infrastructure projects of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it would not only connect states but also create employment opportunities and boost economic activities along the corridor.

“Roads mean employment. In this section alone, Hitech has employed over 1,000 people. Direct and indirect jobs are springing up.

“Anywhere we are working, you will see security presence. We also have local vigilantes working with them. It is opening up commerce, agriculture and education,” he said.

Umahi urged residents of the Niger Delta region to support the project, insisting that those criticising the highway were not acting in the interest of the people.

“It is up to Niger Delta people to speak up for this project. They should defend it. They should defend the President. They must vote for the President to complete it,” he said.

On allegations that the highway alignment was altered to favour private estates, the minister explained that the original coastal route was abandoned due to technical challenges, including deep soil deposits of up to 50 metres and the need to construct three bridges of about 3.5 kilometres each across ocean channels.

“That option was not feasible. It would have been too expensive,” he said.

Addressing concerns over funding, Umahi described the project as one of the most transparent infrastructure initiatives undertaken by the Federal Government.

He said Deutsche Bank, which is financing Section 1 of the highway, had described the design and construction as being “in perfection” and had oversubscribed the loan facility by $100 million.

The minister commended Hitech Construction Company for the quality of work and its engagement with host communities, expressing confidence that the project would be completed as promised by President Tinubu.

“Under President Tinubu, this country will be rebuilt. The roads he is building now will last for the next 100 years without reconstruction,” Umahi said.

He urged Nigerians to continue to offer constructive criticism, stressing that the administration remained open to feedback aimed at improving governance.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖