Coastal Highway Takes Center Stage: FG Suspends Other Projects
FG Puts Brakes on Road Projects Till 2026
Federal Government halts new road projects until 2026, prioritizing completion of existing ones and three legacy initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda due to funding constraints.
The Federal Government has commenced construction on the South-South section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, prioritizing this critical infrastructure project. Meanwhile, the government has put a hold on new road projects due to funding constraints.
According to Minister of Works, David Umahi, no new road projects will be initiated in 2025 due to a lack of funds. He made this announcement during a stakeholders' meeting on Sunday, June 30, at the Transcorp Hotel in Calabar, where discussions focused on the proposed alignment for Section 3A - a 38km stretch of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This meeting followed a previous stakeholders' engagement held on Saturday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to Umahi, the Federal Government will concentrate on completing existing projects inherited from previous administrations and prioritize three strategic road projects aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Bola Tinubu administration, which aims to drive meaningful progress and development.
The three legacy projects prioritized by the Federal Government include:
- The Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, a 1,000km road spanning seven states and linking to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Lagos.
- The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700km road connecting Lagos State to Cross River State through eight states.
- The Calabar-South East-North Central-Apo Abuja Superhighway, a 477km road connecting Calabar to four states, terminating in Abuja.
According to Umahi, construction on the Calabar end of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is set to begin in August, marking a significant milestone in the project's progress.
He said, “We will not be embarking on any new road project in 2025. This is because of the paucity of funds. We would rather concentrate on inherited projects and the legacy projects of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. These projects are dear to the President and he is desirous of delivering on these projects.”
The minister issued a stern warning to contractors handling government road projects, emphasizing that they must significantly enhance their performance and meet expectations or face the consequences of having their contracts terminated.
While presenting the routes for Section 3A and the Trans-Africa Highway, which spans across five states including Cross River, Ebonyi, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja, Umahi expressed his discontent with the sluggish pace of work on the Akwa Ibom and Cross River-Calabar-Itu section, which had been awarded to three contractors, emphasizing the need for accelerated progress.
“If Julius Berger (Plc) fails to return to the site at the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued today (Sunday), we will terminate the contract,” Umahi declared, repeating his prior threat. Berger was not as good as the local contractor Sermatech Limited.
“Sustenance is based on the improvement of our roads. Contractors are playing tricks on our road construction; if we put one kobo in his hands he must give us an affidavit. The contractor must put his feet on the throttle. If you are climbing the hill, will you remove your leg from the throttle? No.”
Minister Umahi issued a stern warning to contractors handling government projects, stating that the era of complacency is over. He emphasized that no amount of lobbying or influence would shield underperforming contractors from consequences, and that only timely delivery and quality work would suffice.
Umahi reaffirmed the Tinubu administration's unwavering commitment to completing all inherited road projects and the three flagship legacy road projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He emphasized that the government is dedicated to fulfilling its promises and ensuring meaningful progress in the country's infrastructure development.
The minister further stated that related projects tied to the three legacy initiatives would undergo a thorough review to evaluate their current status, identify outstanding tasks, and determine the necessary next steps to ensure their successful completion.
Umahi said, “Construction will begin on the two sections of the road in Cross River State and one section in Akwa Ibom State simultaneously.
“After this stakeholders' engagement, we get the design and start the procurement. We are very sure that in August, construction will start in this state.
“I will not allow construction to start only from Akwa Ibom, but ensure that construction starts in three sections - two in Cross River and one in Akwa Ibom states, respectively.
“The projects are going to have a rail track; We started with the tracks in the the middle in section two, but we have redesigned it to have the tracks by the side.”
Minister Umahi appealed for the cooperation and support of key stakeholders in Cross River State to facilitate the seamless implementation of the project. He emphasized the importance of collaboration to overcome potential challenges and ensure the project's success.
Umahi commended Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State for his exemplary cooperation and partnership with the Federal Government on the road projects. He acknowledged the governor's commitment to supporting the initiatives and praised his efforts in fostering a productive working relationship.
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