The Minister of Works, David Umahi on Thursday said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will remain one of the four legacy projects of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration despite criticism from some Nigerians.
He however told those Condemning the project not to ply the road when completed.
The Minister was reacting to the comments earlier made by former president Olusegun Obasanjo who described the N15.6tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project as wasteful and corrupt.
Obasanjo disclosed this in chapter six of his new book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’ where he painted the portrait and characters of chief executives at both the federal and state levels.
Reacting in Akure, while on a working visit to Ondo State for a 2nd interactive session on the Ondo State axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, Umahi said, “This Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the four legacy projects of Mr. President.
“For those saying it is a waste of resources, when the project is completed, they should not use the road.
“This is not a wasteful project and it is not fraudulent. If someone is saying it’s a fraud, that person is also saying that I am a fraud and I am definitely not.
“This project has been very transparent, and that is why we continue to engage the stakeholders. Every step of the process has been very transparent and every detail is in the public domain.”
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, while addressing the stakeholders meeting, gave an update on the preparations for the execution of the 71km alignment of Ondo State in the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The Minister commended the government and people of the State for the support given to the project, adding that all the necessary steps to its execution have been taken.
Umahi also commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his keen interest in the infrastructural development of the State, promising that all Federal road projects in the State would be given speedy execution.
The Minister also promised that the federal government will soon shift its focus to the execution of the Aiyetoro shoreline protection project.
Aiyedatiwa Hails President Tinubu On Federal Projects In Ondo State
The Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the successful completion of federal road projects in the State, emphasizing the crucial role of infrastructure in driving economic growth and development.
The Governor made this assertion during the working visit of the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, to Ondo State on Thursday for a 2nd interactive session on the Ondo State axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The meeting, which was held at the Government House in Akure, is a follow up to the first stakeholders meeting held on October 31, 2024 on the project.
Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the increase in federal presence in Ondo State through many infrastructural projects, including the ongoing Ore-Ondo-Akure dualisation project, the federal teaching hospital and new aviation school, among others.
He said: “We have not had it so well in recent times with federal projects in our State. Permit me to mention but a few: the Akure – Ore Dual Carriageway, the Akure – Ado Ekiti Dual Carriageway, the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, and the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure”.
He further stressed the importance of completing these projects, noting their potential to boost economic activities in the State and the South-West region. He also appealed for additional federal support to actualize critical projects such as the Ondo Deep Sea Port and the mitigation of the Ayetoro sea incursion.
Governor Aiyedatiwa assured the Minister of Works that the Ondo State Government would provide an enabling environment for the successful execution of these projects.
“We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring that these projects are completed for the benefit of our people. In this regard, I pledge the Ondo State Government’s unflinching support and commitment towards actualizing their completion,” he stated.
