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Minister of Works David Umahi has guaranteed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project will continue as scheduled, despite the legal challenge currently facing its execution.
The 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will stretch from Victoria Island in Lagos to Calabar, Cross River State, passing through key states such as Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom.
This initiative is anticipated to significantly boost infrastructure, improving connectivity and driving economic activity across Nigeria’s coastal areas.
Speaking at the Abuja press conference on Thursday, Umahi highlighted the Federal Government’s dedication to the project’s completion, affirming that every necessary legal and procedural step has been taken.
Umahi dismissed claims of unauthorized actions, stating, “We are paying compensation and following the legally approved corridor right of way for the federal government.”
He expressed confusion over the basis of the court case, noting, “And so, we don’t know what they are taking to court.”
Addressing questions about the procurement process, the Minister noted that the Federal Executive Council had approved the project in accordance with the Restrictive Procurement Act.
Read also: Protest: Umahi Warns Peter Obi Over Inflammatory Remarks
“My permanent secretary is a procurement expert, and I have a very good department of public procurement and good directors. But the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council under restrictive procurement,” he explained.
Umahi defended the project’s cost and scale, stating that comparisons to other international projects were unwarranted and lacked merit.
He stated, “I’ve evaluated the project’s cost at 4 billion per kilometre, but some still compare it to Egypt’s 1.8 billion per kilometre for a 300-kilometre stretch,” expressing frustration with critics who lack sufficient knowledge.
He also assured stakeholders that comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments were finalized, and the project had been accounted for in the 2023 supplementary appropriation.
“We have EIA certificates on the project. That’s number one. Number two, was the project listed in the appropriation list? The project is in the 2023 supplementary appropriation,” he confirmed.
Umahi firmly warned that those trying to halt the project through the courts are wasting their time, stating, “If their goal is to unduly benefit from this project, they won’t succeed.”
Umahi further declared that, having faced numerous challenges during his tenure as governor, he is not intimidated by those with ill intentions. He emphasized that his name is David and expressed his lack of fear towards adversaries.
