The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has described the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as the best gift of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to Nigerians, insisting that even its critics would acknowledge its impact.
Umahi spoke on Monday at the flag-off of the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road at the Open Field of Legacy Estate, along the Idi Ayunre axis.
The minister said residents of Lagos were already experiencing the benefits of the coastal highway, particularly in reducing travel time between Epe and Lagos.
“Go and ask people in Lagos; go ask even enemies; they will testify that this is the best gift of this administration.”
Umahi said a journey that previously took between seven and eight hours could now be completed in about 15 minutes, describing the improvement as a major achievement.
“Today, within 15 minutes, you will move from VI straight down to Epe and to the Lekki Seaport; this is a miracle.”
The minister also defended the procurement process used for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway amid criticism that there was no competitive bidding before the current contractor was selected.
Umahi explained that Nigerian procurement rules provide for different methods, including special procurement, restrictive procurement and advertisement, arguing that special procurement was used because of the contractor’s experience and track record.
He specifically referenced Hightech, saying the company had previously worked on projects involving the Atlantic Ocean and was therefore considered qualified to undertake the coastal highway.
The minister questioned criticism of the procurement process, asking whether critics were better positioned to assess the project than the Dutch bank that had called for international funding for the project.
He also said the project had attracted significant interest, with the funding reportedly being oversubscribed by $100 million.
Work ongoing on existing roads
Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State, also dismissed claims that the Tinubu administration was focusing on new road projects while allowing existing roads to deteriorate.
He said the government was currently working on all existing roads, particularly through the administration’s legacy projects.
“There is no existing road that we are not working on.”
According to him, about **95 per cent of the legacy projects being undertaken by the administration pass through existing roads that had previously deteriorated.
The minister said the government was working to rehabilitate and improve those routes as part of its broader road infrastructure programme.
President Tinubu was represented by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun at the flag-off of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road dualisation project, which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode corridor is an important route linking communities in Oyo and Ogun states and facilitating the movement of people, agricultural produce, goods and services across the South-West.
Source: Federal Ministry of Works.
