The Federal Government has begun construction on the South-South axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, while simultaneously announcing a suspension of new road projects for 2025 due to funding constraints. This announcement was made by Minister of Works, David Umahi, during a stakeholders’ engagement session at Transcorp Hotel in Calabar on Sunday.
The engagement, a follow-up to an earlier session in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, focused on the proposed alignment for section 3A of the highway, which spans 38 kilometers. Umahi emphasized the government’s commitment to completing inherited projects and the three major road projects under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Legacy Projects
The legacy projects include:
- Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway: A 1,000km highway connecting Sokoto to Badagry, passing through seven states and linking to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway at Ahmadu Bello Way, Lagos.
- Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: A 700km coastal highway connecting Lagos State to Cross River State through eight states.
- Calabar-South East-North Central-Apo Abuja Superhighway: A 477km highway connecting Calabar to Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa states, terminating in Apo, Abuja.
Umahi announced that construction work on the Calabar end of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would commence in August. He reiterated the government’s decision to focus on these projects due to limited funds, stating, “We will not be embarking on any new road project in 2025. We would rather concentrate on inherited projects and the legacy projects of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”
Contractor Accountability
The minister also warned contractors that delays and substandard work would not be tolerated. He issued an ultimatum to Julius Berger Plc to return to the Akwa Ibom and Cross River-Calabar-Itu site within seven days or face contract termination. “If Julius Berger fails to return to the site at the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, we will terminate the contract,” Umahi said, praising indigenous contractor Sermatech Limited for superior performance.
Project Specifics and Stakeholder Engagement
Umahi detailed the project’s phases during a session in Uyo. Section three comprises 27km in Akwa Ibom and 38km in Cross River, while section four, entirely in Akwa Ibom, covers 80km. He underscored the importance of stakeholder support for seamless execution, commending Cross River Governor Basset Otu for his cooperation.
Governor Otu, represented by Deputy Governor Peter Odey, pledged the state’s continued collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works. State Surveyor-General Patrick Bassey called for robust stakeholder cooperation and requested that no Certificates of Occupancy be issued along the project route.
Local stakeholders, including traditional rulers and political leaders, urged federal intervention on other critical roads to boost the state’s economic prospects. Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for prioritizing sections three and four of the coastal highway, calling for maximum support from the Akwa Ibom State government.
Construction is slated to begin simultaneously on the two sections in Cross River State and one in Akwa Ibom State by August. “Tinubu is a man who matches his words with actions,” Umahi stated, highlighting the administration’s dedication to infrastructure development.
Accompanying the minister were members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Works, reinforcing the federal commitment to these pivotal projects.
